Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Instagram
Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Instagram

Kieron Pollard on Friday showcased why he is regarded as one of the most dangerous players in T20 cricket. Chasing 219 against Chennai Super Kings, Kieron Pollard smashed an unbeaten 87 runs in a mere 34 balls as he helped Mumbai Indians to script a thrilling four-wicket win on the final ball.

Mumbai Indians needed 16 to win in the final over, and despite two dot balls from CSK pacer Lungi Ngidi, Kieron Pollard took his team to a win.

Kieron Pollard
Mumbai Indians’ Kieron Pollard. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)

Kieron Pollard’s Inspirational Innings Left Hardik Pandya Speechless

Speaking after the match, MI allrounder Hardik Pandya described his performance as “inspirational” and said he was left speechless.

“After winning this sort of a game you got to be pumped for the rest of the night I guess. When he (Pollard) does something like this you are genuinely speechless,” Pandya said after the match on Star Sports.

Hardik Pandya celebrates the win with Kieron Pollard. (IPL)
Hardik Pandya celebrates the win with Kieron Pollard. (IPL)

“The best part was he has done it over the years again and again. Bloody… Fantastic. I mean I will say inspirational to watch someone do it consistently and on his day do something this amazing. I would have loved to finish the game, but us winning the game was more important. 210 (218)… the game can’t get better than this. Especially for me when you are chasing something like this you don’t have to think much. You bloody go and swing,” Pandya added.

“I feel we have arrived at the right time of the tournament now. I feel for us this game was very important This momentum is going to help us do wonders I think. Again special mention to Polly, I am just very proud of him,” he signed off.

Kieron Pollard played a blinder as Mumbai Indians completed the second-highest chase in the history of IPL, gunning down 219 to stop Chennai Super Kings’ winning run. Ambati Rayudu’s 72 went in vain as MS Dhoni’s men suffered a heartbreak.

Kieron Pollard Played A Gem Of An Innings Hitting 8 Sixes And 6 Fours As Ambati Rayudu’s Late Attack Goes In Vain

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. His blitz ensured Mumbai Indians complete the highest successful chase on Indian soil in the tournament.

Kieron Pollard denied singles in the final over and backed himself to get the required 16 runs and he did so in emphatic style. Faf du Plessis dropped him on 68 and that proved to be the turning point for Chennai Super Kings whose 5-match winning run came to an end.

Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock had earlier given Mumbai Indians a fine start, stitching a 71-run stand in just 7.4 overs. Mumbai Indians lost quick wickets as they went from 71 for 0 to 81 for 3, losing both their openers and Suryakyumar Yadav in quick succession.

Ambati Rayudu
Ambati Rayudu (BCCI Photo)

Earlier in the day, Chennai Super Kings never took their foot off the pedal after being sent into bat by Rohit Sharma who won the toss. They lost Ruturaj Gaikwad early but Moeen Ali and Faf du Plessis counter-attacked, taking the attack to the like of Jasprit Bumrah and Dhawal Kulkarni in the powerplay.

Faf Du Plessis and Moeen Ali added 108 runs in just 61 balls as the Super Kings raced past the 100-run mark in the 11th over. The duo hit 9 sixes and 7 boundaries before Jasprit Bumrah snapped the partnership with a slower ball.

Just when it looked like CSK would be restricted to less than 180 runs on board, middle-order batsman Ambati Rayudu came up with one of the finest big-hitting displays to propel the 3-time champions to 218. Ambati Rayudu hit 7 sixes for his 27-ball 62 not after hitting his fifty in just 20 balls. He took the aggressor’s role in his 102-run unbeaten stand that came in just 42 balls.

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 scoring an entertaining knock.

Brief Scores:  Mumbai Indians: 219/6 (Kieron Pollard 87*, Quinton de Kock 38; Sam Curran 3-34) beat Chennai Super Kings: 218/4 (Ambati Rayudu 72, Moeen Ali 58; Kieron Pollard 2-12) by 4 wickets.