Brilliant Pollard lifts Mumbai to fourth after downing Narine’s KKR

MUMBAI, India, CMC – West Indies Twenty20 star Kieron Pollard bowled a superb final over to limit Sunil Narine’s Kolkata Knight Riders and guide Mumbai Indians to an exciting five-run victory in the Indian Premier League here yesterday.

Kieron Pollard.
Kieron Pollard.

Requiring 12 from the last over at the Wankhede Stadium in their quest for 172, KKR were strangled by Pollard’s gentle medium pace and finished on 166 for seven.

In his only over of the game, Pollard removed the dangerous Yusuf Pathan for 52 off 37 balls with the first ball of the over but then watched as Umesh Yadav (5 not out) swatted the next delivery to fine leg for four.

However, Pollard then conceded two runs from the next four balls, to hand Mumbai a precious two points and propel them into fourth spot in the standings on 14 points.

They are now only two points behind leaders Chennai Super Kings, with KKR second on 15 points and Sunrisers Hyderabad, third on 14.

Pathan was supported by captain Gautam Gambhir who struck 38 from 29 balls in a 45-run opening stand with Robin Uthappa who got 25.

Big-hitting West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell perished for two.

Pollard had earlier cracked an unbeaten 33 off 38 deliveries with a four and a six as Mumbai, sent in, tallied 171 for four.

The right-handed Trinidadian put on 92 in an unbroken fifth wicket stand with Man-of-the-Match Hardik Pandya who smashed 61 not out from 31 balls, with eight fours and two sixes.

Captain Rohit Sharma chimed in with 30 from 21 balls.

Pollard’s Trinidad and West Indies counterpart, opener Lendl Simmons, managed just 14 from 16 balls with a four and a six.

Off-spinner Narine, also a T&T and Windies player, claimed one for 38 from his four overs while seamer Russell went wicket-less in four overs which cost 37 runs.