Ronchi took the game from us, admits Morgan

KARACHI: Karachi Kings captain Eoin Morgan admitted Islamabad United opener Luke Ronchi took the game from his team with his whirlwind knock in the qualifier in Dubai on Sunday.

Ronchi smashed a 39-ball 94 not out to seal the target of 155 as Islamabad romped home in 12.3 overs with 45 balls to spare, entering the March 25 final in Karachi.

Karachi Kings will now meet the winner of first eliminator between defending champions Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators in Lahore on Wednesday.

Morgan admitted his team’s total was less than a winning one and then bowlers went awry.

“We don’t start well with the bowl that allowed Luke Ronchi to get himself in and play in his aggressive manner, a couple of loose deliveries and from there he really did take the game from us,” said Morgan of Ronchi who notched 12 boundaries and five sixes.

“When you play innings like that it surely is match-winning innings.”.

Morgan said his team did not put up a match winning total. “We batted ok, we didn’t bat at best, it was a competitive total but not a match-winning total,” said Morgan of his team’s total which has Colin Ingram’s 68 not out and 51 from Joe Denly.

Morgan admitted that dropped catches made the contest a one sided affair.

“I totally agree (one sided match), we didn’t bat at our best. Couple of loose deliveries and then we didn’t take our chances. We dropped a few chances since I came here, in Sharjah may be the dew was one of the factors but not here. It’s probably something we have to look at,” said Morgan, whose team dropped as many as four chances in Islamabad’s innings.

Morgan termed the Dubai pitch as a good one.

“I think it was a good wicket, the dew had set in when we went there, I don’t think there was much change in the wicket in the second innings,” said Morgan, who wished Karachi Kings the best of luck.

“I wish them the best of luck. I thoroughly enjoyed my one week here, I enjoyed it last year and hope to join whenever the opportunity comes.”