Powerful Pollard demolishes CSK in record run chase

Powerful Pollard demolishes CSK in record run chase

IPL 2019 12 Mumbai Indians Kings XI Punjab Virat Kohli Smriti Mandhana

The Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings have treated the fans to an all-time IPL classic as the defending champions have successfully completed the second-highest run chase in the history of the tournament against their biggest rivals. It was a game that went down the wire as Mumbai finished their chase of 218 of the very final ball of the match. Kieron Pollard played an extraordinary innings of 87 from 34 balls that will go down in IPL folklore as one of the greatest innings this competition has ever seen. The West Indian hit six 4s and eight 6s to help Mumbai get over the line and break Chennai’s five-match win streak.

Pollard walked in with Mumbai in dire straights needing over 130 runs in the final 10 overs with both openers and Suryakumar Yadav already back in the shed. Nevertheless, the Trinidadian didn’t abandon hope and slowly started to rebuild Mumbai’s innings alongside Krunal Pandya. After a cautious start, Pollard ignited the chase in the 13th over with three towering 6s of Ravindra Jadeja. This 20 run over against Jadeja provided the momentum to Pollard and Mumbai’s innings as he raced to his half-century in only 17 deliveries.

The required run-rate slowly started to creep down as Pollard dispatched the ball all across the ground with his brute power and timing. Mumbai scored an astonishing 75 runs in 4 overs but Chennai clawed back into the game thanks to an excellent 17th over from Sam Curran which went for only two runs and included the wicket of Krunal Pandya. However, the game turned on its head one over later where Faf Du Plessis – one of the best fielders in the IPL – dropped Kieron Pollard with Mumbai still 30 away from victory. Pollard made the most of this extra life as he scored the 16 runs required from Lungi Ngidi’s 20th over to help Mumbai cross the line in one of the most exciting IPL finishes in recent history.

While Mumbai did eventually take the two points, cricket was the real winner on the night as batters from both sides played some extraordinary innings on a flat wicket in Delhi. In the first innings, Chennai were able to score 218 thanks to two separate century partnerships. Faf Du Plessis and Moeen Ali both scored half-centuries to give Chennai the perfect platform while former Mumbai Indians batter Ambati Rayudu scored a stunning 72 of 27 deliveries as he carted the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult all across the ground at the death.