Indian Premier League 2012

We didn't expect Bisla's onslaught: Fleming

Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming said while his team's strategy to target Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Gautam Gambhir worked, little known Manvinder Bisla's outstanding knock came as a surprise and snatched the game away from the defending champions.

Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming said while his team's strategy to target Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Gautam Gambhir worked, little known Manvinder Bisla's outstanding knock came as a surprise and snatched the game away from the defending champions.

Chasing a stiff target of 191, Knight Riders' Bisla played the most defining innings of his life, scoring 89 off only 48 balls (8x4, 5x6) ably supported by Jacques Kallis (69, 49 balls, 7x4, 1x6) to beat the Super Kings by five wickets.

"I don't know if we can over-analyse how wrong we got it, but admire what they did. Bisla, I thought was outstanding, they needed someone to stand up.

"We got a great early wicket with Gambhir, which we had targeted, but we didn't expect the onslaught from Bisla, maybe a quick 30, 40 would have been fine, but he took it quite deep and with (Jacques) Kallis," said Fleming after Chennai lost the nerve-wracking IPL 5 final against Kolkata last night.

"This partnership (Bisla and Kallis) gave them the belief. Going in to last over with 15 runs is a different story. We did not fire our way through. It is probably a very fitting finale and it is a great IPL in terms the cricket that has been played," he added.

Asked why Ravindra Jadeja or Suresh Raina were not used when Bisla and Kallis were going great guns, Fleming said, "It is very hard to analyse where you could have used the bowlers in different situations. We have got bowlers to deliver under pressure and they are experienced players and they have performed for us throughout the tournament.

Adding that captain Mahendra Singh could answer that question better, Fleming said, "I do not know whether it is right or wrong. (Shadab) Jakati has been bowling well in last couple of games. But in a high scoring game it is always going to be such situations and we do not over analyse about them."

Criticising Chennai's fielding, Fleming said, "Couple of turning points was there in the match. Bisla got his way. Our fielding was not good and was not as sharp as we expected it to be. Perhaps we were under pressure for the first time.

"We knew it is going to be a high scoring game and the pitch was very good. We were not really complacent but were edgy."

Fleming said though he was disappointed that his team failed to make it the hat-trick of titles, he was satisfied to have reached the final.

"We were happy we got the chance to play in the finals, but once we started the finals, I think you saw a rejuvenated CSK. Once we got a sniff, I think we felt we could go all the way and with the chance we'd been given. The fact we played two and a half finals games pretty well was an indication that we had firm belief of winning three out of three," said the New Zealander.