During the 50th match of the 11th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) at Mumbai, Mumbai Indians’ Kieron Pollard celebrated his comeback into the playing eleven by scoring his 13th IPL half-century.
After Ravichandran Ashwin won the toss and chose to field, Mumbai Indians got off to a flying start. It was Andrew Tye, who picked up three wickets in two overs to bring back the visitors into the game.
Included in the team in place of JP Duminy, Pollard came in to bat at No. 6 in the ninth over after Rohit Sharma (6) went back to the pavilion. At 71-4 before the halfway mark, Kieron had a task to accomplish for it was crucial for the hosts at that point in time to stitch a partnership.
The best part about Pollard’ innings was that it came in his natural style. Doing justice to his reputation, the 31-year all-rounder stood tall on the expectations bestowed upon him. When he punched a boundary through the extra cover region in the 10th over, it was the first boundary scored off Pollard’s bat and the first of the Indians’ innings after 30 balls.
After getting his eye in, when Pollard hit his first six off Axar Patel in the 13th over, it appeared that similar shots were bound to be hit in the overs to come. In the following over, Pollard was seen hitting Ankit Rajpoot for a six and a couple of fours.
After Stoinis dismissed Krunal Pandya in the next over, Pollard spoiled his over by hitting a couple of fours and a six. The six hit on the last ball of the over saw him completing his half-century. The pumping of the fist towards the dressing room was perhaps an emotional celebration for he had been warming the bench after a series of below-par performances in the season.
When he got out against Ashwin in the 16th over, he scored 50 (23) with the help of five fours and three sixes. Watch the highlights of his innings:
https://twitter.com/videos_shots/status/996790636731809792
Watch how Twitteati reacted on Pollard’s sensational comeback innings:
Pollard came. Pollard saw. Pollard smashed! 💪🏻
The explosive all-rounder came 🔙 in thrilling fashion tonight! Just how important was his knock? #MIvKXIP pic.twitter.com/ODrr26xKmM
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 16, 2018
https://twitter.com/EdinAzzaa/status/996780935377895425
That’s Kieron Pollard for everyone!! Steps up just at the right time when needed! #MIvKXIP
— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) May 16, 2018
https://twitter.com/PatelNits1/status/996794207749754880
Really important and good come back for Kieron Pollard. Well deserved 50 for him 👏👏👍
MI is stable now!#MIvKXIP— 🎯DEVENDRA🎯 (@DS_790) May 16, 2018
Undoubtedly this game is all about Kieron Pollard vs Chris Gayle. This tournament is having so many twists and turns the way things are going. I'm so excited about this phase of #IPL2018. #MIvKXIP
— Rishabh Datta (@rishabhdatt) May 16, 2018
https://twitter.com/cricfreakz/status/996783530104406016
Cometh the hour, Cometh Kieron Pollard! #beastmode
— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) May 16, 2018
https://twitter.com/RaijinAntony/status/996757081054052352
https://twitter.com/puneet44567/status/996785023649906688
https://twitter.com/KABZ_2001/status/996784202577334272
