On Saturday, Kieron Pollard batted like a man possessed to lead Mumbai Indians to an incredible four-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings, smashing the ongoing IPL’s fastest half-century in a high-octane contest. Pollard sped to his fifty in just 17 balls and remained unbeaten on 87 off 34 deliveries as he triumphantly walked back to his jubilant teammates at the end of the game, despite being set an imposing target of 219 runs. In the final over, Mumbai needed 16 runs, and Pollard smashed two fours and a six before running two off the last ball to seal the tie.
CSK posted 218/4 thanks to Ambati Rayudu’s unbeaten 72 off 27 balls, but Pollard’s blitzkrieg was overshadowed by his blitzkrieg, as he smashed eight sixes and six fours to build on a solid 71-run opening stand. This was the IPL’s second-highest run chase ever.
Mumbai were 81/3 at one point, but Pollard’s power-hitting at the Arun Jaitley Stadium’s batting heaven turned the game around. Krunal Pandya (32) and Hardik Pandya (16) have contributed to the team’s success.
The carnage began in the 13th over, when Pollard smashed three towering sixes off Ravindra Jadeja, scoring 20 runs for Mumbai. After that, he smashed two consecutive sixes off Lungi Ngidi before facing Shardul Thakur in the 15th over as Mumbai scored 23. Despite Krunal’s exit, Pollard, who was on 68 at the time, continued to play his shots as the equation came down to 31 runs from the final two innings.
Quinton De Kock (38; 4×4; 1×6) and Rohit Sharma (35; 4×4; 1×6) of Mumbai got off to a fast start, racing to 58 in six overs. Rohit seemed to be able to push the barriers at will. In the sixth over, the Mumbaikar struck Lungi Ngidi for a six over mid-wicket, while De Kock also played his shots. As the five-time champions seemed to be on track for a fruitful chase, the pair plundering runs at will.
Shardul Thakur, on the other hand, broke the stance by dismissing Rohit, who was holed up in the deep with Ruturaj Gaikwad. Mumbai were reduced to 81/3 in the 10th over after Suryakumar Yadav (3) and Moeen Ali removed De Kock. From there, Pollard took over.
CSK had earlier amassed 82 runs in the last five overs with Rayudu in top form to set a tough mark. After being called to bat first, Moeen Ali (58) and Faf du Plessis (50) both hit half-centuries. CSK lost opener Ruturaj Gaikwad (4) early on, but du Plessis of South Africa and England’s Moeen Ali of England piled up runs at will during their 108-run second-wicket stand. Rayudu, who scored his fifty in just 20 balls, pounded out seven sixes and four fours during his time in the centre.
CSK scored 11 runs in the second over after du Plessis crushed Dhawal Kulkarni for a four and a maximum. Moeen also flexed his muscles in the third over, hammering Trent Boult (1/42) for a limit and a boundary over backward square-leg, as Chennai racked up 12 runs.
As CSK cantered to 49/1 after powerplay, Moeen was the more violent of the two. The southpaw continued to play his shots as he pleased. As CSK amassed 16 runs and raced to 77/1, Moeen, who used the pull shot to perfection, and du Plessis were brutal on leg-spinner Rahul Chahar (0/32), hitting sixes each in the ninth over.
As CSK cantered to 49/1 after powerplay, Moeen was the more violent of the two. The southpaw continued to play his shots as he pleased. As CSK amassed 16 runs and raced to 77/1, Moeen, who used the pull shot to perfection, and du Plessis were brutal on leg-spinner Rahul Chahar (0/32), hitting sixes each in the ninth over.
Moeen Ali smashed a six and two boundaries off James Neesham (0/26) in the 10th over, while Du Plessis smashed two consecutive sixes and a boundary off Jasprit Bumrah (1/56) in the next over. In the IPL, this was Bumrah’s most costly spell.