IPL 2019: Kieron Pollard's monster performance for Mumbai Indians snatches win from KXIP

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  • Mumbai's Kieron Pollard. Image - BCCI/SPORTZPICS.

    A monster performance at the crease from Kieron Pollard took Mumbai Indians to the brink of an improbable IPL win, before compatriot Alzarri Joseph hit the winning two runs off the last ball in a dramatic finish.

    Kings XI Punjab batted first at Wankhede and were put in the driving seat courtesy of a 116-run opening stand between Chris Gayle (63 off 36) and KL Rahul (100* off 64). The Indian batsman anchored the innings well as wickets fell at the other end following Gayle’s departure.

    A score of 197/4 was more than competitive and in the absence of the injured Rohit Sharma, it was stand-in captain Pollard who took centre stage. When Hardik Pandya was dismissed in the 16th over, Mumbai required 63 off 24 balls.

    The Windies all-rounder put in a sensational display of power-hitting, dispatching the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin and Sam Curran with ease. His knock of 83 from just 31 balls included 10 sixes and three fours (72 runs exclusively in boundaries).

    His wicket left Mumbai needing four runs from as many deliveries but Joseph held his nerve under pressure to see them over the line. The victory takes the hosts into third place, one above Kings XI who have played a game extra.

    WHO’S THE BOSS?

    Apart from his knock of 79 off 47 balls against Rajasthan Royals in the first round of fixtures, Gayle had largely disappointed in the 2019 edition of the IPL going into the encounter at Wankhede. In fact, he’s even been comfortably overshadowed by his compatriot Andre Russell who’s an early favourite for the Man of the Tournament award.

    The Kolkata Knight Riders all-rounder boasts an average of 128.50, a strike rate of 212.39 and has hit 25 sixes – seven more than anyone else this season. There were even murmurs in the Twittersphere that Russell was ‘Universe Boss 2.0’. Gayle wasn’t going to stand for that.

    The West Indies opener produced a vintage performance against Mumbai. Having taken the first 10 balls or so to get his eye in, he proceeded to bludgeon seven sixes on his way to 63 off 36 balls but suffered some discomfort and required treatment from the physio. He was dismissed the very next ball.

    In the second innings, it became apparent that Gayle wasn’t having to defend his ‘Universe Boss’ title against just one of his compatriots. Pollard’s phenomenal performance with the bat served as a timely reminded of just what he’s capable of.

    THE NO1 CHOICE?

    Rahul wears the number one on the back of his Kings XI shirt and while that likely denotes his place in their batting order, it is perhaps doubling up as a message to the Indian team selectors thanks to his recent form.

    After falling cheaply in the opening couple of games this season, he proceeded to stack up four half centuries over the following five games before going the distance and scoring a ton in Mumbai.

    Conveniently for him, his best knock so far came on a day that Rohit Sharma was missing through injury and unable to respond. Rahul is certainly challenging the experienced batsman for his opening slot at the World Cup but under even more threat is Shikhar Dhawan’s place in the XI.

    The southpaw has struggled just as much as Sharma this season but doesn’t boast the seniority or decision-making in the field that Mumbai skipper does. Selectors will be impressed with how Rahul has managed his innings, consistently getting off to good starts before accelerating.

    IN ROHIT’S ABSENCE

    The absence of Rohit Sharma’s name from the playing XI had a jarring effect. While Mumbai Indians aren’t exactly short of talent, his absence does remove a significant portion of star quality from their side. A muscle spasm ruled him out of an IPL match for the first time in 11 years.

    Pollard took charge in his stead and some of his decisions in the field were questionable not least of which was limiting Joseph to just two overs.

    Mumbai’s top order looked a little ordinary without him as well and chasing 198, they needed one of them to lay the foundation for a successful innings. In the end though, Pollard single-handedly snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

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