Kieron Pollard was batting on 70 when he gave a catch to one of the best fielders in the game, Faf du Plessis. But the South African, to the surprise of many, dropped the catch and as it turned out, the match also.
Kieron Pollard was going at full pace against Chennai Super Kings on Saturday. Mumbai Indians needed to chase a stiff target of 219 and hoped that someone in Mumbai camp will stand up to the challenge at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. It was Kieron Pollard who single-handedly changed the complexion of the match.
He smashed an unbeaten 87 runs off 34 balls as he kept his composure to take MI over the line on the last ball of the match.
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Kieron Pollard’s Missed Catch By Faf du Plessis Showed The Pressure That He Was In Said Graeme Swann
However, CSK had a chance to dismiss Kieron Pollard earlier in his innings. He was batting on 70 when he tried to heave one over square leg. But he couldn’t time it and the ball fell to one of the best fielders in the game, Faf du Plessis. But the South African, to the surprise of many, dropped the catch and as it turned out, the match also.
Former England spinner Graeme Swann talked about Faf du Plessis’ drop catch on Star Sports. He said that the dropped catch showed how much pressure Faf du Plessis was under during the game.
“I don’t care what you say about high chases, and incredible strike rates, this (Faf dropping Pollard) was the biggest moment of the game. Faf du Plessis is undoubtedly one of the best fielders in world cricket, you can’t argue that. He never drops anything, especially at the boundary ropes.”
“And he dropped that just shows the pressure that he was in. He dropped Kieron Pollard, and with it, he dropped the game. There is no way Mumbai Indians are getting over the line at that point.
“The ground is too small for Kieron Pollard. But it’s not too small for everyone else. Other people missed catches – it’s cool. Pollard missed catch – it’s done. When he gave you a chance, it had to be taken. Weird to see that it was Faf du Plessis who dropped the catch and cost the game. I never I thought I would ever see that.”
Faf du Plessis dropped Kieron Pollard on 70 and that proved to be the turning point for Chennai Super Kings whose 5-match winning run came to an end.
MS Dhoni Felt CSK Dropped Catches At The Crucial Point But It Didn’t Hurt Much As CSK Is Atop The Points Table
Besides, on a couple of occasions, CSK fielders, trying to go for the catch, ended up giving away fours. After the match, MS Dhoni did not look too upset with the result CSK still leads the IPL 2021 points table but did mention the catches would have made a difference.
“I think it was a brilliant wicket and I feel the difference between the two sides was the execution – how off we were. Not trying to be too tough on bowlers, but catches do help. I felt we dropped catches at the crucial point. It doesn’t hurt much when you’re on the top of the table,” Dhoni said after the match.
Kieron Pollard was the unanimous choice for MOM for his valiant 87* and 2/12 as he took Faf Du Plessis and Suresh Raina’s wicket besides the valiant knock. Kieron Pollard hit nearly everything that was bowled at him on Saturday as he hit 8 sixes and 6 boundaries to pull off one of the most spectacular chases in the IPL history.