Pollard blames 'indiscipline' for lopsided defeat

TRINBAGO KNIGHT Riders (TKR) captain Kieron Pollard has blamed “indiscipline” as the root cause of their eight-wicket thumping by Barbados Royals at the Queen’s Park Oval, St Clair on Tuesday.

In their first Hero Caribbean Premier League T20 home game of the season, TKR were unable to return to winning ways in front of a large crowd.

Batting first, TKR batsmen struggled once more, with the exception of Nicholas Pooran (52) and Sunil Narine (30), and were dismissed for 132 runs.

In reply, the unbeaten Royals extended their record to six wins in as many matches as they raced to 136/2 with four overs remaining, led by Kyle Mayers (79 from 36 balls), Corbin Bosch (33 not out) and Quinton de Kock (15 not out).

Dropped catches, awry bowling and faulty batting were the order of the day for TKR.

“It’s much to explain as to what transpired," said Pollard. "We were indiscipline in all three aspects. We didn’t string partnerships together. We had one big partnership while batting with Narine and Pooran and that was it.

“130-odd on a track like this, ball being a bit wet was always going to be difficult. And in the field; dropping early catches, not bowling to the plan and trying to bowl wicket-to-wicket, we gave them a lot of width where Kyle was able to capitalise.

“A totally dismal performance by us,” he added.

On his team’s poor run of form, having won just one game in five matches and sitting in cellar position on the standings, Pollard said he’s not frustrated but wants his team, and himself, to improve quickly.

“I’m fine. At the end of the day the guys are trying but we still have to come out and execute and that is something that we have not been doing.

“With the bat we have been very poor, and with the ball as well. In spurts we have been good getting early wickets in one of the games and then leaking runs in the back end.

“And then tonight, having to defend a small total, leaking runs up top, 90 odd after nine overs, 60 odd after six overs, you’re always going to be on the back foot,” he added.