Kolkata: Expressing disapproval of the Duckworth-Lewis method, Rising Pune Supergiants coach Stephen Fleming termed the ICC approved rule for rain-curtailed games as “rubbish”, stating that a change is needed at least in the shortest format.
“Duckworth-Lewis is rubbish. As soon as you get to D/L, the game is over. I’ve been saying that for years. The others have said it as well but there’s no point carrying on too much about it,” a disgusted Fleming said after his team’s campaign turned from bad to worse, losing to Kolkata Knight Riders by eight wickets on Saturday. The defeat was Rising Pune’s 9th loss in 12 games.
“It needs to be addressed. There’s no willingness to change. It’s not made for a T20 game. It’s just ridiculous really and until it’s addressed you just hope the sky doesn’t open up,” Fleming said.
The Supergiants, who are out of race for a last four berth, suffered after they were set to defend 66 from nine overs as per D/L method, a target Knight Riders knocked off in five overs.
Supergiants crawled to 103/6 in 17.4 overs with skipper MS Dhoni in the midst of one of his slowest innings of eight not out from 22 balls when rain interrupted the proceedings.
But the Kiwi defended the ‘Captain Cool’ and said they could have got to a score of 135-plus which would have been a par on a turning surface.
“We could have got 135 or 140, maybe 25 runs in the last three overs. We thought 135 would have been a good score. With Dhoni there we were looking those last two overs in particular.
“But we were denied that, so that’s one aspect of our score. It was slowing, turning. Probably it would have got slower if there was no rain,” he lamented.
“The track was turning. We knew it would have been a difficult chase with our spinners but as soon as D/L came in, the game was over. As simple as that.”
