‘Duckworth-Lewis is rubbish’ – Fleming

Rising Pune Supergiants coach Stephen Fleming lashed out at the Duckworth-Lewis method after his side’s eight-wicket defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders, saying that the game was over for them as soon as the rule came into effect. The match in Kolkata on Saturday was marred by rain and a heavy spell interrupted Supergiants’ innings with the score on 103 for 6 in 17.4 overs. After more than two hours of play were lost, Knight Riders were set 66 to win in nine overs, a target they achieved with four overs to spare. The defeat pushed Supergiants out of contention for a playoff spot.

“Duckworth-Lewis is rubbish,” Fleming said after the match. “As soon you get stuck with Duckworth-Lewis the game is over. We could have gone to 135, maybe 140, maybe we could have hit 25 runs in the last three overs. [A total of]135 is good. The track was turning and it was going to be a difficult chase with our spinners, but as soon Duckworth-Lewis and rain [came in] the game was over. Simple as that.

“We thought 135 was a good score. It [the pitch] was difficult. It was turning, it was slow and it was going to get probably slower if there was no rain. So we looked at 135-140. We would have taken a little bit of getting there in terms of [scoring] 25 off the last three overs, but with Dhoni there, that is what he was looking forward to from the last two overs in particular. We were denied that.”

Supergiants lost their in-form opening pair of Ajinkya Rahane and Usman Khawaja quickly after opting to bat on a pitch that seemed two-paced. George Bailey patiently carried out the repair work but Knight Riders …

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