Pant blames poor fielding for loss against CSK

Lucknow Super Giants skipper Rishabh Pant said they had enough runs on the board but poor fielding proved costly during their five-wicket loss to Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League here on Sunday.

Lucknow Super Giants skipper Rishabh Pant said they had enough runs on the board but poor fielding proved costly during their five-wicket loss to Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League here on Sunday. Josh Inglis played a sensational 85-run knock before CSK bowlers rallied to stop LSG at 203 for eight. CSK then rode on a swashbuckling knock from Urvil Patel (65 off 23 balls) to overhaul the target in 19.2 overs. LSG thus suffered their eighth loss in 11 matches to end their playoff chances. ''It was a great game. Everything was coming up nicely. We knew we would be put under pressure in the powerplay. When you come to Chennai, that is the kind of cricket you expect,'' Pant said during the post-match presentation. ''Felt there was enough on the board. Fielding standards have to be up there, too many dropped catches. Urvil played a fantastic and unbelievable knock, like Inglis did for us. The team showed character to come back.'' LSG came out all guns blazing in the powerplay as Inglis launched a brutal assault on the CSK bowlers to propel the visitors to 77 for no loss after five overs before managing 203. Pant admitted LSG fell short of the total they were aiming for. ''The way we started, we would have liked to have more. We knew 200-210 would be a good target. They got off to a flier but we knew it was getting difficult after the powerplay,'' he said. On not giving the final over to Shahbaz Ahmed, Pant said the team backed experience. ''That came to mind, but it was a tough call to have. We needed to back someone. Aiden Markram has done it a lot of times. That is why we believe in every individual.'' Defending 10 off six balls, Markram was smashed for two sixes by Shivam Dube. Player of the match Urvil Patel said the coaches had asked him to keep things simple. ''The coaches told me to hold my shape and hit the ball well. Rutu (Ruturaj Gaikwad) just told me that the wicket is a little low and to be ready for it. He did not say a lot, and just asked me to play the way I did,'' he said.