We gave away 15 runs extra: Gopinath

But Kovai tightened the noose once the power-play ended as they gave away only 12 runs in the next five overs and Chepauk were staring down the barrel. J Gowjith Subash and W Antony Dhas flung their bats at everything, but once Subash was run-out, Chepauk had a daunting task at hand and failed to cross the line.

Chepauk Super Gillies opener KH Gopinath said, the last two overs of the Kings’ innings made the difference. “We lost the game in the 19th and 20th over in which we gave away those three sixes to M Mohammed. I think that cost us the game. We should have restricted them to a score of 120, but we gave away 15 runs extra,” he said. 

The opener said his wicket and dismissal of skipper Rajagopal Sathish proved crucial in the game. “We got a good start and we thought we could take it to the end. Had I carried on for three or four overs more, things would have been easier. So the first mistake was mine. After that, R Sathish’s wicket was a vital moment in the match. Towards the end, Gowjith’s (Subash) runout also cost us dear. If he had stayed till the end, he would have finished the match. After he got out, there were five dots,” Gopinath added. 

Gopinath admitted the wicket was on the slower side and lauded the Kings bowlers for bowling a good line. “The wicket was on the slower side when we were playing, but it wasn’t unplayable. They used the slower ball better than us and that is where our batsmen mistimed a lot of deliveries. Their use of the slower ones changed the game,” he added.