Chennai, May 28 (PTI) Mumbai Indians skipper Sachin Tendulkar today said Chris Gayle's blitzkrieg in the first five overs coupled with his team's inconsistent batting cost them the match here tonight.
"I thought the way Gayle started, specially first over and following five overs that set the tone for them. We came back strongly in the last ten overs, they may have ended going above 200," Tendulkar said after his team was restricted to 142-8 chasing 186 to win.
"The opening partnership didn't work for us in the first half of the tournament, in the last three games it improved.
But the middle order I felt could have been more consistent, but it could not happen," he added.
The senior India batsman said even though his team gave away 15 runs extra he was still confident of a successful runchase.