Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach Daniel Vettori on Saturday cut a frustrated figure after his team’s narrow defeat to Kolkata Knight Riders in their first match of the season. The SRH lost the match narrowly by just four runs after needing seven runs off the last over.
SRH won the toss and chose to field first. KKR saw some magnificent batting displays from their batters including debutant Phil Salt, Ramandeep Singh and Andre Russell. Salt and Russell both scored half-centuries while Ramandeep chipped in with a quickfire 35 of 17 balls. SRH on their part chased the total well and almost succeeded by fell short in the final over when Harshit Rana defended 13 runs by taking two wickets.
Vettori speaking at the post-match press conference, rued the missed opportunity after being in the fray. “This sort of ground we know is a six-hitting ground. If we broke it down, we needed 6 or 7 seven sixes in the backend of our innings and we had the power there with Klassen. To get so close to the game to actually have the game on our hands and then to throw it away, obviously it would be a frustrated group,” he said.
Vettori also praised the KKR players including Sunil Narine, Ramandeep Singh and Andre Russell.
“It was a great innings. I don’t think we underestimated him but the shots he played put the pressure right back on us. Good T20 players, irrespective of their situation, are able to put the pressure back on the bowling team and that’s what he did, allowing Phil Salt at the other end to just play his game,” Vettori said on Ramandeep Singh.
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“Bowling to Russell is very tricky. Obviously he gives some chance and balls go in the air but his power is second to none. So you have to challenge yourself to be perfect with execution,” he said on Russell.
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