Knocked out of the inaugural Champions League Twenty20 after a five-wicket loss to Dimaond Eagles on Friday, Somerset skipper Justin Langer said the cash-rich tournament was "an emotional roller-coaster" for his side.
Somerset's run in the tournament was far from impressive, the English side just about managing to book a place in the league stage after Trinidad and Tobago beat Deccan Chargers in the last Group A match.
Somerset's problems were compounded when their batting mainstay Marcus Trescothick suddenly left for England citing stress-related illness, thereby forcing Langer to field a depleted side against Eagles in Friday's must-win match.
"We didn't get off to a good start. We didn't make enough runs and that's the fact of the matter. It's really disappointing for us, it's been an emotional roller-coaster for us in the whole tournament. We didn't play our best cricket," Langer said after the match.
"We haven't played our best cricket. We have played great cricket all throughout the year this summer. It's been a great experience for some of our young guys to step up to the next level. From that point of view it is a great thing," he said.
Although Somerset are out of the tournament, they will take on New South Wales Blues in their inconsequential last League A match on Sunday.
Meanwhile, his Eagles counterpart Boeta Dippenaar said after the shaky start the South African side improved with every outing in the tournament.
"I am really happy. I think so far in the tournament we have got better and better and if we continue the trend it will be a good thing for us," Dippenaar said.
The Eagles skipper had special praise for pacer Cornelius de Villers, who has been phenomenal for the Africans thus far in the event with the ball.
"He has been magnificent and had performed very well for us. He is a keen character and has great future ahead," Dippenaar said.
He also said the Twenty20 event is a great platform for domestic players.
"It has been a great tournament. It's once in a life time opportunity for provincial teams to play come out and play against international players," Dippenaar said.
