Kings Punjab XI skipper Yuvraj Singh said it was Chennai Super Kings batsman Michael Hussey's unbeaten century that did the hosts in.
MOHALI: Smarting from the 33-run defeat in their IPL opener, Kings Punjab XI skipper Yuvraj Singh said it was Chennai Super Kings batsman Michael Hussey's unbeaten century that did the hosts in.
Terming Hussey's knock as "outstanding", Yuvraj said his team could have had a chance had James Hopes occupied the crease a bit longer.
"It was a bit too much, he was simply outstanding," Yuvraj told reporters after the match when asked to comment on Hussey's 54-run ball knock of 116.
Yuvraj felt giving away 70-plus runs in the final five overs, with 25 in the last over, also did not help their cause.
He, however, praised the way his batsmen Hopes (71) and Kumar Sangakkara (54) batted, saying if one of them would have made a century, results could have turned in their favour.
"We needed somebody to bat like Hussey. I also felt that if I had stayed at the crease for few more overs, it could have been achieved,"said Yuvraj, who made 23 before falling to Joginder Sharma.
He said if any batsman has a day like Hussey or Brendan McCullum, whose heroics in Bangalore on Friday amazed everyone, it would make the task of opposition all the more difficult.
Meanwhile, Hussey said he had great fun and he enjoyed being the anchor of the innings.
"I played according to the situation. But I believe it was a great team effort altogether and everyone played well," he said, adding the short boundaries had also helped his cause.
Kolkata Knight Riders piled 222 in Bangalore on Friday and on Saturday the Chennai side amassed 240. Asked if 300 is a possibility, Hussey said, "I don't know. We never thought 400 was possible in ODIs, but we got it and then South Africa got even better of us. In this format, you cannot draw a boundary."
About facing compatriot Brett Lee, Hussey said, "At his pace it is never fun to face him. His pace was hard. But there were no words exchanged between us."
Asked that he was not a favourite at the IPL auction and if he now felt he had proved a point by scoring a ton in his first match of the league, Hussey said, "I just enjoy being here and I never cared about the money part of it. It's good to see some of the young Indian guys rubbing shoulders with foreign players and some of their own top players. I simply enjoy cricket and love playing in the IPL."
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