Stephen Fleming: Our soft attitude hurt us

Stephen Fleming

Kolkata, May 21 (IANS) Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming on Tuesday admitted his team played badly even as credited the Kolkata knight Riders for taking away the game during their Indian Premier League encounter at the Eden Gardens here.

Speaking at the post match press conference Fleming rued the twin drop chances of KKR batsman Robin Uthappa who went on to score a blistering 39 ball 67 to script an eight wicket win over CSK.

"It was a bad day we played poorly. We scraped pretty hard with the bat and 155- 160 wasn't a bad score on that wicket. But in bowling and fielding we were well off, dropping catches of key players including Uthappa who made us pay and took away the game from us very quickly,a said Fleming.

Uthappa was dropped twice in the slips on the first and third overs.

"They played really well but I can't help the feeling that we let them in to the game in the first few overs allowing them a good start. They heavily rely on their openers and we really helped their cause.

"It's still a good fielding side, sometimes the follows you at times it just the split moment thing that happens. It would have nice had we taken up the chances. Surely it's an area where we need to work on," said Fleming.

The CSK coach also admitted his team's soft attitude hurt its chances in the game.

"It's more of the attitude that hurt us today... we were a bit soft. When things don't go our way, we intimidate our way in. But that attitude was not there today which is unlike CSK, but the positive is we have qualified for the knockouts," said Fleming whose side has eight wins from 12 matches so far.

Fleming also defended playing an extra pacer in the form Ben Hilfenhaus on a slow Eden wicket.

"It nipped around a bit, the balance in the side was right. It just that we did not execute out plans well and KKR cashed on it and the last partnership just killed the game,"added Fleming.