Pollard’s Mumbai get the best of Bravo’s Chennai

CHENNAI, India,  CMC – Big-hitting West Indies batsman Kieron Pollard played a minor role as his Mumbai Indians scored a thrilling three-wicket win over fellow Trinidadian Dwayne Bravo’s Chennai Super Kings in the Champions League Twenty20 here yesterday.

Chasing 159 for victory at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Mumbai reached their target with a ball to spare, thanks to a rearguard cameo, unbeaten 37 off 18 balls from the unlikeliest of personalities – Lasith Malinga.

Pollard blasted 22 from 19 balls with three fours before being seventh out in the 16th over, with Mumbai still needing 53 from 28 balls.

But Malinga crashed three fours and sixes in a 53-run stand for the eighth wicket with Harbhajan Singh (19) to see Mumbai to victory.

Bravo earned two for 22 with his medium pace, prising out Ambati Rayudu (5) and the dangerous Andrew Symonds (3) in successive overs.

Earlier, Bravo did not bat as Mike Hussey hit 81 at the top of the order to propel Chennai to 158 for four after being sent in.

Pollard bowled a tight spell of one for 19 from three overs.

In the day’s other game at the same venue, Herschelle Gibbs stroked 55 from 47 balls to guide South African side Cape Cobras to a comfortable seven-wicket win over New South Wales.