Delhi Daredevils' fast bowler Pat Cummins on Monday admitted that his team let go a great chance to win against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Firoz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi.
“We were definitely expecting a win after we saw off the top three Kolkata batsmen but we let them (Pathan and Pandey) settle in. We got the three big wickets and we should have tried to attack more. It was a good partnership and we let the game slip," Cummins said after suffering a four-wicket defeat to KKR.
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The 23-year-old Australian pacer also hailed Manish Pandey, who scored unbeaten 69 runs to drive KKR to the victory.
"He (Pandey) played a really good innings. We failed to convert the earlier advantage into victory," he added.
Cummins is much impressed with the way Zaheer Khan has led the side so far and want to take the Indian warhorse to Australia. "I wish, I could take him to Australia with me. I am really enjoying working with him," concluded Cummins.
Kolkata Knight Riders pacer Nathan Coulter-Nile also praised Pandey and the partrnership of 110 runs with Yusuf pathan (59).
"We back our top-6 batsmen and losing one or two wickets at the top does not really bother us. Yusuf and Manish have been doing well and we back our middle and lower order to come good even if we lose wickets at the top," Coulter-Nile said.
Asked if his team would be experimenting with their opening combination throughout the season, Coulter-Nile said, "We were banking on Chris Lynn to set us up at the top of the order. So in his absence someone or the other would have to do the job and we are still looking at things."
He was of the view that batting second gives the team the time to assess the conditions and that was the reason KKR were comfortable in chasing.
"All the teams back their batting and I think it gives you time to assess the conditions. You can plan the chase whatever be the target," he concluded.
