Pollard all-round show powers Mumbai to thumping victory

Mumbai Indians don’t seem to be tired of winning. ‘It’s a habit that has to be maintained’ — must be their mantra inside the dressing room. And they maintained it in style, beating Delhi Daredevils by 39 runs in their last home match of the IPL 3 at the Brabourne on Tuesday.

Though Sachin Tendulkar carried the baton for the Nita Ambani-owned franchisee till date, it was grabbed well on Tuesday by West Indian import Kieron Pollard, whose 13-ball 45 - with a strike rate of close to 350 — turned the match on its head and sealed the match’s fate in the last five overs of Mumbai innings. The IPL table toppers added 75 runs in the last 30 balls to take the initiative away from Gautam Gambhir and Co.

Pollard’s innings overshadowed what was otherwise a disciplined bowling performance from Delhi.

After putting up 183 for four, Mumbai Indians halted the opponents for 144-7 to take their tally to 18 from 12 matches. Delhi stay on 12 from 12 outings and their hope for a semifinal berth hangs in balance with five other teams breathing down their necks.

Chasing 184, the visitors looked comfortable till David Warner was in the middle. He was stopped at 31 (15 balls) by Dilhara Fernando. Thereafter the Daredevils wilted under pressure as Virender Sehwag (20), skipper Gambhir (17), Dinesh Karthik (11), AB de Villiers (4), Paul Collingwood (2) departed in quick succession.

Despite coach Greg Shipperd’s stern warning on the match eve, batting mainstay Sehwag ran himself out in a miserable fashion with Collingwood following suit. After completing the first run, Sehwag went for the second, which wasn’t there as the ball went to Pollard whose strong throw made Chandan Madan’s work easier at the striking end.

Earlier, Tendulkar opened the innings with rookie Madan (playing his first match in IPL 3) and both looked comfortable. Though the wicket was not quite conducive for stroke play, Tendulkar and Madan didn’t squander any opportunity of accumulating ones and twos. Madan departed in the sixth over when Amit Mishra took a well-judged catch at short fine-leg off Andrew McDonalds at his individual score of 15.

Tendulkar’s was rather a soft dismissal when he spooned one to AB de Villiers in the covers off Pradeep Sangwan for a well-made 30 from 26 deliveries with three fours. Saurabh Tiwary (38 off 28) and Ambati Rayudu (24 off 21) kept the scoreboard ticking but the need of the hour was some blatant slogging.
Tiwary’s dismissal brought JP Duminy who too was quite comfortable working the balls into the gaps and acquiring runs in ones and twos. But that wasn’t enough and Rayudu’s dismissal was a blessing in disguise for the Mumbai Indians.

Pollard took guard when the crowd was expecting some fireworks. He didn’t disappoint. Talks of not living up to his billing may have ignited the fire in Pollard and the Delhi bowlers were taken to the cleaners rightaway. Later, two run-outs and a bowling figure of 4-0-15-0 earned him his first MoM in the IPL.