Kierron Pollard fires Mumbai to victory
Published:Wednesday | April 21, 2010 | 5:50 PM
West Indies all-rounder Kierron Pollard fired the Mumbai Indians into the Indian Premier League final with a sizzling all-round display that shocked Royal Challengers Bangalore and sent them crashing to a 35-run defeat today.
Playing in the semi-final at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Pollard hammered an unbeaten 33 from 13 balls to lift Mumbai to 184 for five off their allotted overs.
The IPL’s top dollar all-rounder then snatched three for 17 to reduce the visitors to 149 for nine and earn the Man-of-the-Match award.
Mumbai lost the prolific Sachin Tendulkar cheaply for nine and despite knocks of Ambati Rayudu 40 and Abhishek Nayar 22, were still struggling at 144 for five in the 18th over.
Pollard then dominated an unbroken 40-run, sixth wicket stand with Saurabh Tiwary 52 to lift the tempo at the end of the innings.
Royal Challengers looked to be making a fight of it at 81 for two in the 10th over until Pollard intervened with three wickets.
Dwayne Bravo, who skippered Mumbai in their previous match, was on the bench for the game.
Mumbai will face the winner of the other semi-final between Chennai Super Kings and Deccan Chargers, which is scheduled for tomorrow.