Bravo, Pollard chip-in as Mumbai win

MUMBAI, India, CMC – Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, and the Mumbai Indians rolled-on in the Indian Premier League yesterday with a tense four-wicket victory over the King’s Punjab XI. Chasing 164 for victory, Mumbai made a hash of the reply, but got to their target with three balls to spare at the Brabourne Stadium.

It was a topsy-turvy match as Mumbai Indians fortified their place at the top of the table on 12 points.

Pollard was brought up the order to bat at three and came at the fall of Sachin Tendulkar for 11 to leave Mumbai on 42 for one in the sixth over.

Pollard struck two fours and one effortless six flicked over long-off in 20 from 13 balls. Bravo had a brief stay at the crease. He made eight from four balls and managed a six, charging Ravi Bopara and lofting him over long-on, before he gave the same bowler a return catch. Bopara ended with three wickets for 31 runs from his four overs. Earlier, Bravo took one for 22 off three overs, and Pollard conceded 20 from two overs, but took a catch at deep mid-wicket to dismiss Brett Lee.

Lasith Malinga collected four for 22 in his spell, and Zaheer Khan three for 34 to undermine the Punjab batting.

Shaun Marsh’s 57 off 47 balls with six fours and one six was the top score for the Punjabis.

The Punjab XI remain rooted to the bottom of the table on two points with six losses and one win.

West Indies opener Adrian Barath sat out yet another match and watched his Punjab XI team-mates tumble to another loss.