New Delhi: Mumbai Indians rose from the ashes to clinch a nail biting 4 wicket win over Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League on Saturday (May 1).
Kieron Pollard’s unbeaten 34 ball 87 tore the CSK bowlers while Mumbai chasing a mammoth 219 at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium. MI were left stranded on 81/4 but the big man from Trinidad probably played the best ever innings in his IPL career to clinch a victory on the ball of the innings. Earlier, CSK posted 218/4 in 20 overs through Moeen Ali (58) and Ambati Rayudu(72 not out).
WHAT. A. WIN for the @mipaltan 🔥🔥
Some serious hitting from @KieronPollard55 ( 87* off 34) as #MumbaiIndians win by 4 wickets.
Scorecard – https://t.co/NQjEDM2zGX #VIVOIPL pic.twitter.com/UAb6SYCMQz
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 1, 2021
Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock gave Mumbai a solid start before both of them fell in quick succession with Surya Kumar Yadav following them soon as well on a single digit. Pollard coupled with Krunal Pandya took matters in the hand starting the counter attack although it was all about the Caribbean who ran havoc bringing up a 17 ball half-century, the quickest of this season. The duo stitched a valuable 89 runs partnership before Krunal got dismissed at 32.
Hardik Pandya struck a couple of sixes in the 19th over to close the gap although Sam Curran dismissed him and Jimmy Neesham to still give Chennai a chance.
Needing 16 of the penultimate over, Pollard held his composure striking Lungi Ngidi a couple of boundaries and a a maximum before taking the winning couple of runs of last ball. Shardul Thakur and Lungi Ngidi tasted most of the hammering although Sam Curran with 3/34 was the pick of the CSK bowlers.
Earlier, Chennai rode on Faf du Plessis(50), Moeen Ali(58) and Ambati Rayudu to put up 218/5 in 20 overs. Despite loosing Ruturaj Gaikwad in the opening over, Du Plessis and Moeen turned up heat after setting down adding 109 runs boosting CSK innings with both of them striking a half-century. Moeen got dismissed for a breezy 36 ball 58 with Faf following him soon after reaching his fifty.
Mumbai’s bowlers though made a brief comeback after that. However, Ambati Rayudu started an onslaught tearing every Mumbai apart striking a 27 ball 72. Trent Bolt and Jasprit Bumrah both lost their track as CSK stormed to 218/5 in 20 overs. Even in the bowling, Pollard contributed well with 2/16 from his couple of overs.
Brief Scores: Mumbai Indians 219/6 in 20 overs(Kieron Pollard 87 not out, Rohit Sharma 35; Sam Curran 3/34, Ravindra Jadeja 1/29) beat Chennai Super Kings 218/5 in 20 overs(Ambati Rayudu 72 not out, Moeen Ali 58; Kieron Pollard 2/16, Trent Boult 1/42) by 4 wickets.
