Fleming criticises D/L method

Stephen Fleming, coach of the Rising Pune Supergiants, criticised the Duckworth-Lewis method as an inappropriate method to determine rain-interrupted matches, and especially Twenty20s.

The onset of rain brought about the Duckworth-Lewis calculations, according to which Knight Riders had a target of 66 in nine overs.

Rising Pune Supergiants coach Stephen Fleming strongly criticised the Duckworth-Lewis system, saying it was 'ridiculous' to implement the rain rule in T20 matches.

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After Supergiants' eight-wicket loss to Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Eden Gardens here on Saturday night, Fleming said, “Duckworth-Lewis is rubbish. As soon as you get to D/L, the game is over. I have been saying that for years. The others have said it as well but there is no point carrying on too much about it.

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“It needs to be addressed. There is no willingness to change. It is not made for a T20 game. It is just ridiculous really and until it is addressed you just hope the sky does not open up.”

On Dhoni's slow knock, in which he scored only eight runs off 22 balls, Fleming said, "It was hard, a difficult pitch to bat on. The approach was to play positive cricket but we lost wickets because the ball turned. We knew we would lose wickets with that type of pitch."

Fleming said his team, which had made 103 for six in 17.4 overs when rain stopped play, was looking at scoring quickly in the remaining overs. "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 (M. S.) Dhoni there, we were looking at those last two overs in particular. It was slowing, turning. Probably it would have got slower if there was no rain.

"We knew it would have been a difficult chase with our spinners on but as soon as D/L came in, the game was over (for us)."

Knight Riders pacer Ankit Rajpoot said his team was not under pressure even after losing two wickets in the first over while chasing 66 off 54 balls after the revision of target following the rain break. "It was not a big target and anything could have happened. But there was no change in our mindset after we lost two wickets. There was no pressure as Yusuf (Pathan) was doing well," said the pacer, who played his first match.