PERTH, Australia, CMC – Kieron Pollard outshone Chris Gayle in the battle of the big-hitters, striking a typically explosive half-century to power South Australia to a 46-run victory over Western Australia in the Twenty20 Big Bash last night.
Batting at number three, the right-hander hammered 55 from 26 balls with five fours and four sixes to help propel South Australia to an imposing 202 for eight off 20 overs after they won the toss and batted first at the WACA.
He then returned to snatch two for 26 with his medium pace as Western Australia could only reach 156 for nine from their allotted overs, with Gayle managing just six.
Daniel Harris smashed a top score of 70 from 37 balls and Michael Klinger hit 35 from 25 balls, to give the visitors a rousing start as they posted a rapid 98 from 56 balls for the first wicket.
When Klinger skied a simple catch to Gayle at cover after striking three fours and a six, it paved the way for the Pollard show. The 23-year-old right-hander lost Harris at 115 after the opener had stroked nine fours and three sixes and then also lost Callum Ferguson to a broken nose two runs later, before unleashing his fireworks.
In the same over Ferguson was hit by Sajid Mahmood, Pollard dispatched the last three deliveries from the former England fast bowler for sixes in an over that cost 23 runs. He continued to punish the Western Australia bowlers, adding 75 for the third wicket with Daniel Christian whose 21 came at a run-a-ball.
Pollard eventually perished in the 18th over, caught at long off by Shaun Marsh off fast bowler Mick Lewis (2-26).
In Western Australia’s run chase, Gayle smashed the second ball of the opening over from off-spinner Nathan Lyon (2-45) over long off for six but was stumped off the very next ball in freakish circumstances, after the ball hit wicketkeeper Graham Manou in the stomach and rebounded onto the stumps to find the former West Indies captain short of his ground.
Marcus North then top-scored with 48 from 29 balls but Western Australia failed to find the momentum needed, as Pollard returned to strike twice with the ball to see South Australia to victory.
