IPL 2018: CSK needed partnerships to ensure a win over DD, says Stephen Fleming

Chennai Super Kings lost badly to Delhi Daredevils last night in the IPL.

The lack of partnerships with intent cost CSK the game. (IANS)

Stephen Fleming, head coach of the Chennai Super Kings, has come out and stated that it was the lack of good, solid partnerships while batting that cost his team a heavy defeat against the Delhi Daredevils. 

Chennai Super Kings, at the top of the points table, playing against Delhi Daredevils who are at the bottom of it, was considered a foregone conclusion but the beauty of T20 cricket, where any team can beat the other on the day, shone through as DD went on to beat CSK by 34 runs defending a modest total of 162. 

Stephen Fleming talking about the game at the post-match press conference, said, “We failed to get a partnership of substance which brought the slowness of the wicket to the fore and it was just hard to generate momentum. We hoped that the wicket would speed up but they took the pace off nicely. Leg spinners created pressure and we gave them wickets,” 

“When you lose wickets by chasing a medium score on a slowish pitch, it will always be hard. To start an innings becomes difficult. It was a close game, but we never in the chase after the first 10 overs once we started to lose wickets,”

There was a time when DD were batting where it looked CSK would be chasing a score around 25 less than what they eventually did until their death bowling got exposed again. It is an area of concern for the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side, reiterated Fleming but is positive. He said, “Most teams have problems with the death overs. It is not just us. In the match before this, Dwayne Bravo helped us restrict a potential score of 200 down to 180. The nature of the game is such that one has a good day and on some days, you are at the wrong end of it,” 

Chennai Super Kings who have already qualified for the playoffs plays Kings XI Punjab in their last game of the league stage on Sunday. 

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 19 May, 2018

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