We were competitive despite defeats: Jehan Mubarak

After being outplayed in three consecutive matches, Southern Express skipper Jehan Mubarak put up a brave front stating that his side put up a fight despite hat-trick of defeats in the Champions League T20 here on Tuesday.

We were competitive despite defeats: Jehan Mubarak

Raipur: After being outplayed in three consecutive matches, Southern Express skipper Jehan Mubarak put up a brave front stating that his side put up a fight despite hat-trick of defeats in the Champions League T20 here on Tuesday.

"In the tournament, we were competitive. We have shown that we could compete against major teams like Mumbai Indians, Northern Knights and Lahore Lions," Mubarak said at the post-match conference after losing to Lahore Lions by 55 runs.

"We did show that we can compete but not consistently, not for 20 overs and that makes the difference and I think that was the lack of experience, we couldn't sustain the pressure," Mubarak added.

He also said that the team missed the services of Lasith Malinga and ace batsman Tilakratne Dilshan.

"Yes, their absence did hurt us in both departments.

Irrespective of the results of the matches, any team would want to have these two in the side," Muabarak said.

He also blamed his team's middle-order collapse against the Lions.

"I expected a lot more from middle order batsmen...We lost as nobody took responsibility in the middle to get the runs, to rotate the strike," he said.