Shane Warne says horror start cost them the game against Kings XI Punjab
The http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rajasthan-c837 Royals captain, Shane Warne has blamed his top order for another humiliating defeat for the team in the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League.
Warne’s comments came in the wake of Rajasthan’s defeat at the hands of the King’s XI Punjab at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali last night.
Warne, while talking to the reporters at the post match media conference, said that the dismal start to the game never allowed them to bounce back at any stage.
"We thought they could score 220-230, but in the end we did well to pull them back. But we had a horror start," said Warne.
The Rajasthan based franchise was chasing 196 to win but at the end of the allotted 20 overs, Shane Warne and his men were 48 runs short of the target with three wickets remaining.
The side suffered some early setbacks and was reeling at 49 for 4 after eight overs. The opening duo of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rahul-c83321 Dravid was back in the pavilion for a combined contribution of 17 runs and it was all downhill from there.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ashok-c46345 Menaria tried to put the side back on track with a half-century partnership from just five overs, but the effort was in vain.
The 41-year-old, Australian spin wizard said that it was the top-order that failed to click and urged that they needed to work on ways to make the best use of the powerplay overs.
Warne also praised Binny and Menaria for their contribution to the losing side.
The Royals’ skipper also said that they had to pay for the chances they gave to the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Paul-Valthaty-c2170.
"You just can't bowl no-balls. You just can't give second chance to batsmen like Gilchrist and Paul. It was lucky for them but unlucky for us," the 41-year-old Warne said.
Both Gilchrist and Valthaty were sacked by the Rajasthan bowlers but fortunately for them, the deliveries were no-balls.
Having won just two of their six IPL games played so far, Rajasthan Royals stand fifth on the points table.
The team will now head to Jaipur to play against the Kochi Tuskers http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Kerala-c803 on Sunday, the 24th of April.
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