Dhoni ascribes defeat to flop batting, rain

Mahendra Singh Dhoni today blamed batting failure and untimely brief spell of rain for India's rout against Australia as the team suffered a crushing nine-wicket defeat in a Super Eight group match of the World Twenty20, here today.

Just when Australia had began their chase, rain stopped play for about 10 minutes and India skipper said that it made conditions difficult for his spinners.

"We need to analyse what really happened. We got off to a good start, but lost quick wickets, and we were not in a good situation to cash in. That was the main reason for the defeat We were 20 short," Dhoni said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

"Rain came just at the wrong time. Just after the wicket was rolled. The wet ball is not good for spinners. It just reminded me of the England series, where nothing worked for spinners. That was the main reason we lost. No spinner told me the ball did not slip out of my hands," Dhoni added.

Dhoni praised Australian openers Shane Watson and David Warner for their superb batting but admitted that they squandered a good start.

"We need to give them credit for the way they batted, but the ball was not stopping as it did in the first innings. We should have got bit more total. 70 runs after 10 overs was a good start," he said.

Dhoni said they would like to forget the comprehensive defeat and "move forward".

"It's important to look at what mistakes what we have committed as a team, but it is also important to get it out of the system, not think about it much. we will try to do that, but it will still be there, in some corner of our heart," he said.

Australian skipper George Bailey was extremely pleased with his fast bowlers, particularly Pat Cummins, who took two wickets for just 16 runs in his four overs.

... contd.

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