Mumbai: Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Anil Kumble attributed his side's 35-run defeat to Mumbai Indians in IPL semi-final to the runs galore they conceded in the last five overs.
"We gave away too many runs in the last five overs. Had we contained them to 165-170 which was on the cards we could have won. Again while chasing we were looking good but losing two wickets in two balls did not help, not good at all," said Kumble after his side's 35-run defeat.
MI scored 77 runs in the last five overs when Kieron Pollard smashed 33 not out in only 13 balls with three sixes and a four and in the company of Saurabh Tiwary, who made 52 not out in 31 balls with four sixes and three fours. RCB also lost the wickets of Robin Uthappa, who made a breezy 26 in 13 balls, and Rahul Dravid (23) in successive balls in the 10th over to slump from 81 for two to 81 for four.
Kumble gave credit to Mumbai for the manner they batted and bowled in crunch times while chiding his experienced batting line-up for failing to put up a good run chase.
"We were good till the ninth over as 100 runs in eleven overs were par for the course. But Mumbai bowled very well in the last six or seven overs and credit is due to them," he remarked. The former India captain also said that the team would now have to concentrate on making it to the Champions League Twenty20 by winning the match for the third place on April 24.
"We have a couple of days to prepare for that match which would be a consolation victory. The main prize was the IPL final," Kumble rued.