KL Rahul on LSG losing: 'A poor performance overall'

Kolkata Knight Riders bowled out Lucknow Super Giants for 235 at the Ekana Stadium on Sunday. Speaking after the heavy defeat, LSG captain KL Rahul described it as an "overall poor performance" by his side but pointed to the bowling as the main culprit that cost LSG on the night.

It was the first time this IPL season that a team had scored 200 or more in seven matches in Lucknow. Rahul felt that LSG lost their way in trying to chase down the target and said that his bowlers allowed KKR to score "20 or 30 runs over par":

"When you're chasing a big total, you try to go hard and you end up losing wickets. So just a poor performance overall."

Sunil Narine and Phil Salt got KKR off to another explosive start, helping their side post 70 in the powerplay. It was the sixth time in 11 games this season that KKR had scored that many or more. Rahul said the approach of KKR's openers "put a lot of pressure" on his "young bowlers". 

LSG responded by being 70 for 1 in the eighth over of the chase, with both Rahul and Marcus Stoinis dismissed. However, the required run rate had now climbed above 13 runs an over and LSG began to slide. They were bowled out for 137 with almost four overs to spare, losing 9 for 67 in less than nine overs. Rahul admitted there was nothing wrong with the pitch, but said the pressure of the scoreboard probably derailed LSG.