Smith shines, Pollard fails as Chennai win third straight

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, CMC – Kieron Pollard failed again but his West Indies teammate Dwayne Smith did not, as Chennai Super Kings easily beat Mumbai Indians by seven wickets in the Indian Premier League here yesterday.

Playing at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Mumbai chalked up 141 for seven off their 20 overs, after opting to bat first. Captain Rohit Sharma top scored with exactly 50 off 41 balls while New Zealander Corey Anderson struck 39 from 31 deliveries.

Pollard, however, managed just 12 from 11 balls he was bowled by seamer Mohit Sharma, dragging an attempted slog onto off stump from a slower delivery.

Pollard now has 21 runs from his three innings for Mumbai.

In reply, Smith helped get Chennai away to a flyer, slamming a cameo 29 off 22 balls, in posting 57 off 38 balls for the first wicket with Brendon McCullum, who finished 71 not out.

Smith played out a maiden from left-arm spinner from Pragyan Ojha off the first over of Chennai’s run chase but then proceeded to belt four sixes, to give his side early momentum.

McCullum, meanwhile, smashed eight fours and two sixes off 53 balls to see Chennai to their third straight victory, after they had opened the tournament with a loss to Kings XI Punjab.

In the other game played on Friday, Darren Sammy’s Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Delhi Daredevils by four runs to register their first victory.