Published: Apr 06, 2013, 09:47 PM (IST)
Edited: Apr 06, 2013, 09:47 PM (IST)
Kieron Pollard struck five sixes and four boundaries to score 57 not out off 38 balls © PTI
By Nishad Pai Vaidya
Chennai: Apr 6, 2013
Kieron Pollard smashed an unbeaten 57 against Chennai Super Kings at the M.Chidambaram Stadium to take Mumbai Indians to 148. Mumbai stuttered all along as they lost wickets at regular intervals as the Chennai bowlers were on top. However, Pollard kept striking to keep Mumbai in the hunt.
Mumbai captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and chose to bat first on a wicket that has a reputation of slowing down as the game progresses. As a result, Mumbai dropped the young Jasprit Bumrah and brought in the left-arm spinner, Pragyan Ojha. Dwayne Smith came in place of Jacob Oram. Dirk Nannes, Ben Laughlin and Ankit Rajpoot were the new faces in the Chennai line-up.
The crowd watched in anticipation as the two legends graced the centre. However, Mumbai got off to a horrible start as they lost Sachin Tendulkar in the first over for naught. The umpire ruled him out leg before off the bowling of Nannes. It was a huge surprise to see Tendulkar react — he was absolutely livid as he trudged off to the pavilion.
Dinesh Karthik, Mumbai’s star from the previous game walked in and looked in good touch. He welcomed the youngster Rajpoot with a lovely square drive for four in the second over. Ponting struggled to get going and Rajpoot had hit caught at first-slip while attempting a pull — a shot that is the Australian’s trademark.
With the score reading 17 for two in the fourth over, in walked Rohit Sharma to join Karthik. He got off the mark with a nonchalant cover-drive. Rohit had a lease of life when Rajpoot dropped a sitter at fine-leg as the batsman mistimed the pull off Nannes.
Meanwhile, Karthik was proactive as usual, trying to take the attack to the bowlers. In the sixth over, he pulled Rajpoot for a four through mid-wicket. Fate was on his side as Suresh Raina dropped him at extra cover as Karthik hit it hard. To add insult to injury, he pulled the next ball for massive six over square leg. Mumbai finished the powerplay at 41 for two.
Immediately after the powerplay, Rohit inside edged an in-coming delivery by Dwayne Bravo and was caught brilliantly by Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Karthik continued to fight and Mumbai’s fifty came up in the eight over. He played a few good strokes and was putting pressure on the fielders by showing intent in running between the wickets.
Then came the disaster for Mumbai as Karthik was trapped plumb in front by Dwayne Bravo. Mumbai were 59 for four in the ninth over needing some great batting to resurrect their charge. Ambati Rayudu and Kieron Pollard were left with the tough task of rebuilding their innings.
There has been a lot of talk about Pollard not getting enough time in the centre and the stage was set for him today. He was off and running with a well timed square drive and a leg glance — both crossing the ropes. But, Mumbai slipped further as Rayudu was caught at third-man while trying a rash stroke off Laughlin. At 75 for five, Mumbai needed something very special. Was Pollard going to do it for them?
Pollard stood like a lone warrior at one end as Mumbai slipped at the other. His West Indian compatriot, Dwayne Smith didn’t last long as he holed out to Bravo at long on off the bowling of Ravichandran Ashwin. Bravo entertained the crowds with an idiosyncratic celebratory jig.
Pollard was in his elements as he was timing the ball very well. In the 13th over, he merely lofted Ravindra Jadeja over long on and the ball sailed miles into the stands. Mumbai’s hundred came in style as Pollard then sent an Ashwin delivery into the stands at long-on. The slog overs were upon Mumbai and the West Indian was trying to up the ante.
The long-on boundary was Pollard’s area as he now sent Bravo for a maximum. There was some drama in that particular over by Bravo, the 16th, as the two West Indians had a small exchange, but it all looked in good spirit. In the next over, Pollard then smashed Ashwin over extra-cover for another six. He was only dealing in sixes as Mumbai needed the punch at the end.
Harbhajan Singh was uncharacteristically quiet at the other end, but joined the party with a four over extra cover in the 18th over.Pollard then smashed Laughlin for a four straight back past him. He brought up his third IPL fifty with a single in the same over.
Harbhajan then smashed his first six in the last over off Bravo with a huge strike over square leg. Pollard then hit another six over his favourite are to finish the Mumbai innings on a high.
Despite the repeated setbacks, Mumbai did well to get 148. However, that may not be enough against a strong Chennai batting.
Brief Scores: Mumbai Indians 148 for 6 in 20 overs (Kieron Pollard 57 not out, Dinesh Karthik 37; Dwayne Bravo 2 for 44, Dirk Nannes 1 for 18) vs Chennai Super Kings
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