Adam Gilchrist blamed poor bowling and batting towards the latter part of both innings for the 11-run loss that Deccan Chargers suffered against Kolkata Knight Riders in the opening match of the Indian Premier
League.

'I will say the back-end of both the innings was the turning point. We did not bowl well after a good start in bowling and did not bat well after having a good start.

'They bowled very well by changing the pace nicely,' he said after the holders' lost their lung-opener from a winning position.

Chargers were 99 for one at one stage chasing the Knight Riders' total of 161 for four but once flamboyant Gilchrist, who led the Hyderabad franchise fell for a quick-fire 54 in 35 balls, things fell apart for his team that ended up at 150 for 7 at Navi Mumbai's D Y Patil stadium.

Gilchrist said that last year the Knight Riders had lost close games, but this time they have done better in the opener.

'Last year they did not do it right from 50-50 situations but today they hung in well,' he said.
But he blamed his batsmen for poor shot selection while praising Angelo Mathews and Owais Shah for batting well to first steady the Knight Riders innings and then 'maximizing towards the end'.

'We did not bowl well at death,' he admitted ruefully.