Deccan Chargers captain Adam Gilchrist blamed the team's fielding and lower-order batting after losing to Delhi Daredevils by 12 runs in the Indian Premier League, in Durban on Thursday.
The Chargers were cruising along nicely in their run chase in reply to Delhi's 173 for four before all hell broke loose and from 148 for three, Deccan lost the remaining seven wickets for just 13 runs.
"We committed cricket suicide with our lower-order batting and fielding," Gilchrist said at the post-match ceremony after three catches went down when Delhi were batting.
"We gifted the game away," said the Deccan Chargers skipper, who blasted his way to a 33-ball 64 runs that set the tone of the run chase.
AB de Villiers (44) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (37) made Deccan pay the price after they were dropped on seven and eight, respectively.
Gilchrist was livid with the fielding. "Level of catching in this tournament hasn't been high. We are pretty disappointed. Would have been nice to get the two points."
Making the semi-final could prove to be a bit difficult following this defeat but the Australian felt they are still in the mix.
His Delhi Daredevils counterpart, Virender Sehwag, was a relieved man and admitted they didn't have much chance with Gilchrist and Andrew Symonds going great guns.
"We put up a good total but then didn't have much chance the way Gilchrist and Symonds were batting," said Sehwag, who returned to action after missing some of the action due to a finger injury.
He praised Rajat Bhatia and Pradeep Sangwan for their efforts.
"Both Rajat and Sangwan bowled very well. I had faith in Rajat because he bowls a lot of yorkers and he did the job," said Sehwag, who said they would like to keep winning and pick up the winning cheque of USD 50,000.
"That is a huge bonus," said Sehwag.
