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  Panic got the better of us, says fleming

Panic got the better of us, says fleming

Published : Oct 5, 2013, 11:45 pm IST
Updated : Oct 5, 2013, 11:45 pm IST

Stephen Fleming sat in grim silence for a few seconds on the dais. Coach of the heavily favoured Chennai Super Kings, the elegant former New Zealand captain had just seen his team mugged a second time in three days, and his demeanour reflected baffled displeasure.

Stephen Fleming sat in grim silence for a few seconds on the dais. Coach of the heavily favoured Chennai Super Kings, the elegant former New Zealand captain had just seen his team mugged a second time in three days, and his demeanour reflected baffled displeasure. “We panicked,” he said, succinctly of the display from his powerful bating side. “The running was frantic. They (the Royals) had a number of opportunities to get run outs and we just kept giving it to them. They set the tone for the first six to ten overs and we never really got our calmness back, which is unusual for this batting side. But perhaps it was just the pressure of a semi-final. HODGE TO MISS FINAL Rajasthan Royals were dealt a heavy blow a day ahead of the CLT20 final with news that key middle-order batsman Brad Hodge will not be seen in action on Sunday. Reports said the stocky Victorian, who collided with fellow-Australian Shane Watson in the field during the dying stages of their semi-final against CSK here on Friday, had badly injured his knee and would have to sit out the decider.