Mumbai: Kieron Pollard single-handedly took Mumbai Indians to the top of the table, scoring an unbeaten 66 off just 27 balls to help his team beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by seven wickets in an Indian Premier League (IPL) match at the Wankhede Stadium here yesterday.
Sunrisers looked to be coasting to securing all two points and with it going fourth in the table.
However, a blitzkrieg from Pollard, which included eight sixes and two fours, changed all that and gave the hosts an unlikely win.
Mumbai, chasing 179 runs for victory, scored 184 for three in 19.3 overs and took their tally to 20 points, same as Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals but with a better run-rate.
West Indian all-rounder Dwayne Smith got Mumbai Indians off to a brisk start, scoring 21 off 17 balls.
Indian pacer Ishant Sharma, who bowled beautifully with the new ball, got the better of him.
Sachin Tendulkar (38 retd. hurt) and Dinesh Karthik (30) added 68 runs for the second wicket but were never able to score too quickly.
When Tendulkar walked off the field, cramping up in his left hand, Mumbai still needed 84 off 48 balls.
The hosts suffered a double blow as they lost Karthik in the same over, bringing two new players at the crease.
Requiring 62 off the last four, the game changed hands as Perera was plundered for 29 runs in the 17th over with Pollard hitting three consecutive sixes and Rohit Sharma (20 not out) adding another one.
Pollard, then added more misery on the Sunrisers smashing spinner Amit Mishra for another three sixes in the very next over.
With 12 needed off the last two overs, Pollard finished the match with a maximum off the third last ball to give Mumbai their seventh consecutive win at home.
Earlier, Hyderabad electing to bat, got off to a flyer courtesy Parthiv Patel. The diminutive left-hander, who scored a half-century in the previous match, hit 26 off 14 balls.
Shikhar Dhawan (59) and Hanuma Vihari (41) carried on the good work and added 73 runs for the second wicket. Cameron White (43 not out) too played a cameo as Sunrisers posted a fighting total.
Meanwhile, the Royal Challengers Bangalore will have to live up to their reputation of being hometown bullies if they hope to remain in contention for the play-offs as they return to familiar environment to take on the unpredictable Kings XI Punjab here today after three weeks on the road in the IPL.
RCB’s track record at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium this season has been as impeccable as most other teams.
However, after suffering four defeats in six away games in the past few weeks, they need to win both their remaining matches at home, including one against the rampaging Chennai Super Kings, to progress in the competition.
With 16 points from 14 matches, RCB have to constantly look over their shoulders at Sunrisers Hyderabad, also on 16, while defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (12 from 14) are on a hot charge and Kings XI (10 from 13) still believe they have an outside chance should they win their remaining three matches.
Thus, there is a lot at stake for the Virat Kohli-led RCB on the morrow when besides the visiting opponents, they also need to keep an eye on the heavens.IANS
