Dazzling Pollard too good for Chennai
Kieron Pollard held his nerve to smash 16 runs off the final over, as his scintillating half-century propelled reigning champions Mumbai Indians to a dramatic last-ball, four-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League here yesterday.Chasing an imposing 219 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Mumbai got a stunning 34-ball unbeaten 87 from the West Indies white-ball captain while South African Quinton De Kock chipped in with 38, opening partner Rohit Sharma, 35, and Krunal Pandya, 32.
Even then, Mumbai found themselves still up against it on 203 for six at the end of a thrilling penultimate over which served up two sixes and two wickets.However, Pollard took matters into his own hands. He refused a single off the first delivery of the final over from South African speedster Lungi Ngidi before inside-edging the next ball to the ropes at deep square, and then carting a high full toss to the fine-leg boundary.His 53rd T20 half-century was the fastest of the tournament, needing just 17 balls, and was achieved with the last of three fours in the 15th over from Shardul Thakur which leaked 23 runs.Pollard belted a half-dozen fours and eight towering sixes – three coming in the 13th over from left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja as Mumbai gathered a staggering 138 runs in the last ten overs.
“When he does something like this you’re genuinely speechless,” said Pollard’s teammate Hardik Pandya, who bludgeoned two sixes in the 19th over in a seven-ball 16.“It’s fantastic, I would say inspirational to watch someone consistently do it and on his day, do something this amazing.”
Even then, Mumbai found themselves still up against it on 203 for six at the end of a thrilling penultimate over which served up two sixes and two wickets.However, Pollard took matters into his own hands. He refused a single off the first delivery of the final over from South African speedster Lungi Ngidi before inside-edging the next ball to the ropes at deep square, and then carting a high full toss to the fine-leg boundary.His 53rd T20 half-century was the fastest of the tournament, needing just 17 balls, and was achieved with the last of three fours in the 15th over from Shardul Thakur which leaked 23 runs.Pollard belted a half-dozen fours and eight towering sixes – three coming in the 13th over from left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja as Mumbai gathered a staggering 138 runs in the last ten overs.
“When he does something like this you’re genuinely speechless,” said Pollard’s teammate Hardik Pandya, who bludgeoned two sixes in the 19th over in a seven-ball 16.“It’s fantastic, I would say inspirational to watch someone consistently do it and on his day, do something this amazing.”
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