Warner takes the blame for go-slow in Hyderabad slump

Sunrisers Hyderabad's captain David Warner has blamed himself for his side's seven-wicket defeat to Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, saying he took too long in compiling a half-century.

The free-scoring Australian opener was highly critical of his own performance on Wednesday, saying he took responsibility for the loss despite having scored his 57 in 55 balls as the struggling Sunrisers made 3-171 off their 20 overs.

Chennai then breezed past the total for the loss of just three wickets with nine balls remaining as they moved back to the top of the IPL table.

"I take full responsibility for the way I batted, I batted slow and hit the fielders," Warner said. 

"Kane (Williamson) and Kedar (Jadhav) got us to a respectable total, but at the end of the day I take full responsibility. 

"I probably hit 15 good shots to fielders and they are the ones that make or break the innings. I took too many balls."

While it was Warner's second fifty of the current IPL season, his strike rate of 110.28 is by some distance the lowest of his 12-year IPL career, and well down on his IPL career average of 140.13

Chennai's opening pair of Ruturaj Gaikwad (75 off 44) and Faf du Plessis (56 off 38) featured in an attractive century-stand to ease their team to victory.

Warner decided to bat after winning the toss but Manish Pandey (61 off 46) and Warner (57) consumed too many balls for a 106-run second wicket-stand.

Gaikwad's dominance against the spin saw him smash 10 of his 12 boundaries against either Afghanistan's ace leg-spinner Rashid Khan (3-36) or the left-arm spinner Jagadeesha Suchith, who conceded 45 runs off his three overs.

With their fifth loss in six games, Warner is now overseeing a team that lie firmly at the bottom of the table with only two points. 

"We need to be positive. The guys will be hurt by this but we're a bunch of fighters," said Warner.

Chennai lead the table with 10 points on a better net run-rate than Royal Challengers Bangalore, which also have 10 points after playing six games.

South African fast bowler Lungi Ngidi removed both Warner and Pandey in his last over, the Australian holing out to cover.

Williamson (26 off 10 balls) hit Shardul Thakur for three fours and a six in the penultimate over and Kedar smashed Sam Curran for 10 off the last two balls which lifted Hyderabad's total.