The veteran Mumbai Indians (MI) all-rounder, Kieron Pollard came up with a blitzkrieg knock of 34-ball 87* to help Mumbai Indians (MI) chase down the second-highest total in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). MI chase down a huge target of 219 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Saturday. Pollard smashed 8 sixes and 6 boundaries to pull off one of the most spectacular chases in the IPL. He denied singles in the final over and backed himself to get 16 and he did so in emphatic style.
Faf du Plessis dropped Pollard on 68 and it results in CSK ending their 5-match winning streak. MS Dhoni looked jittery as Pollard kept hitting the CSK bowlers all over the park at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. With the win, Mi has retained their 4th place on the IPL 2021 points table with 8 points from 7 matches. Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock gave Mumbai Indians a fine start as they added 71 runs in just 7.4 overs.
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MI witnessed a small collapse as they came down from 71 for 0 to 81 for 3, losing their openers and Suryakyumar Yadav in quick succession. However, Pollard single-handedly led their chase and helped them past the finish line. For CSK, Sam Curran delivered with the ball, as he managed to scalp 3 wickets but Lungi Ngidi (0 for 62) and Sharudl Thakur (1/56) came up with ordinary performances.
Earlier in the day, CSK batsmen came out all guns blazing after being asked to bat first by Rohit Sharma. They lost Ruturaj Gaikwad early but Moeen Ali and Faf du Plessis counter-attacked the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Dhawal Kulkarni. Du Plessis and ALi made a solid partnership of 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 got the better of Ali. CSK Chennai Super Kings stuttered in the middle losing du Plessis and Suresh Raina in the same over with Kieron Pollard taking 2 wickets in as many balls. Pollard nearly had another one as he trapped in-form Ravindra Jadeja in front. The CSK all-rounder was given out but he came clean after the DRS.
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Just when it looked like CSK would be not be crossing 180, Ambati Rayudu decided to go berserk which took the team to 218. Rayudu hit 7 sixes for his 27-ball 62 not after hitting his fifty in just 20 balls. Rayudu took the aggressor’s role in his 102-run partnership with Jadeja. Rayudu’s fiery knock forced Bumrah to finish with his most expensive figures of 1/56 in 4 overs. The former India batsman’s blitzkrieg meant Chennai Super Kings took as many as 82 runs in the last 5 overs.
Here is how Twitterati reacted to MI’s win:
POLLY has done it 💙💙💙💙💙
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) May 1, 2021
To be fair, both these teams are champion teams.
But that was cool to watch, Pollard take a bow bud!— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) May 1, 2021
Superb game #VIVOIPL cricket. Kieron Pollard is a legend. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻💪💪💪
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) May 1, 2021
What a game !! My man!!! @KieronPollard55 🙌🏻 you beauty !!‘ great knock from @RayuduAmbati aswell !! #MIvCSK
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) May 1, 2021
What a game of cricket #IPL2021
— Carlos Brathwaite (@CRBrathwaite26) May 1, 2021
30 sixes in the game! #CSKvMI #IPL2021
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) May 1, 2021
Incredible. Will become part of @mipaltan folklore..@KieronPollard55
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 1, 2021
It’s great to say we’re consistent in our selection, but if a bowler keeps getting smashed game after game, it’s only going to dent his confidence. Shardul Thakur needs a break. He’s been playing non-stop for months now. KM Asif can’t do worse if they’re looking for a pacer only.
— Shashank Kishore (@captainshanky) May 1, 2021
That’s why this was billed the El Clasico of IPL – this was phenomenal @KieronPollard55 #MIvsCSK
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) May 1, 2021
What incredible hitting by Polly Kaka.
Absolute carnage.
Ole karoon karoon maarla se. Bhigo bhigoke maara.#CSKvsMI pic.twitter.com/Z8sqioQN6T— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) May 1, 2021
Wow! I thought I had seen it all,don't have words to express what just happened! What a knock @KieronPollard55 , it's the greatest hitting I have seen in the ipl, Kudos @mipaltan deserved it sheerly on your brilliance! @ChennaiIPL put up a fight but it was a great match #CSKvsMI
— Kris Srikkanth (@KrisSrikkanth) May 1, 2021
Just wow #pollard & #rayudu. Power hitting at its best! #CSKvsMI #IPL2021
— Pragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha) May 1, 2021
That was incredible game of cricket🤯🤯.. Big man winning it in style @KieronPollard55 💪congratulations @mipaltan well done @RayuduAmbati super inn macha super spell @CurranSM
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) May 1, 2021
Easily the best game so far #IPL2021
— Shai Hope (@shaidhope) May 1, 2021
This is the first time Mumbai Indians chase down 200 or more runs in IPL history.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 1, 2021
