Kings XI Punjab bowling coach S Sriram defended his team’s strategy of going with just five frontline bowlers against Mumbai Indians on Wednesday (April 10) insisting that the combination has worked well for the team in the past.
“That’s how our combination works right now and we’ve had success as a bowling unit doing this but on such a day you can’t do much,” said Sriram after Punjab lost to Mumbai in a last-ball thriller defending a formidable 197/4 at Wankhede Stadium.
“We did not have any target in mind. I thought 185-190 was par on this surface, so we were happy with what we got.”
Mumbai largely rode on Kieron Pollard’s ballistic knock. Chasing a tough 198-run target, the hosts found themselves in a spot of bother having lost regular wickets. That’s when stand-in captain Pollard decided to take matters into his own hands and plundered 83 in just 31 balls which included three fours and 10 sixes to take his side home.
“We have seen Andre (Russell) do this a few times, but I think this was extraordinary. To do it at 13 runs per over, took some doing and I think only Pollard can do that,” Sriram said at the post-match press conference.
“It (the loss) is going to be a tough one, because at that time we just have to be positive and hope that he mishits one. So, I think our plans were good, just that today he was unstoppable.”
