Pollock shines in Mumbai win
2008-05-04 16:27
Mumbai - The Mumbai Indians, inspired by a brilliant all-round performance from Shaun Pollock and superb bowling by Ashish Nehra, recorded a morale boosting 29-run victory over the Delhi Daredevils at the DY Patil Sport Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Mumbai Indians scored 162/8. Sanath Jayasuriya (34, 16 balls, 6x4, 1x6) got them off to a decent start, while Pollock ensured that they got past 150 by smashing a quick-fire 33 off fifteen balls, with two fours and three sixes. He hit three sixes in the nineteenth over, bowled by Mohammad Asif.
The Daredevils could only manage 133 in 18.5 overs.
Nehra took 3/25 in four overs, while Pollock captured 2/16 in four impressive overs. The 19-year old Dhawai Kulkarni contributed two late wickets for 18 runs in 2.5 overs.
The left-arm swing bowler Nehra was on a hat-trick in his final over and took 2/3 as the required run-rate went up to 15.5 runs per over.
The Daredevils were log-leaders before the match started, while the struggling Mumbai-franchise could only secure one win and was rooted to the bottom of the log.
The visitors were pegged back early on by Nehra and Pollock and slumped to 4/2.
Gautam Gambhir was caught by Robin Uthappa in the covers off Nehra for 1, while Uthappa completed a catch off the bat of Shikhar Dhawan.
Virender Sehwag and AB de Villiers repaired some of the early damage before De Villiers was run out at the bowlers's end by Kulkarni in his follow-through for 21 (17 balls, 2x4, 1x6). The Daredevils slumped to 37/3 in 6.1 overs.
Two massive sixes
Sehwag got the Devils back on track. He and Shoaib Malik smashed sixteen runs in the first over bowled by the left-arm spinner Sanath Jayasuriya, with Sehwag contributing two massive sixes.
Sehwag then departed in the eleventh over when he swept a low full-toss by Dominic Thornely straight to Pollock at mid-on. Sehwag was gone for 40 (20 balls, 3x4, 3x6) and Mumbai back in the game as the Daredevils slumped to 82/4 in 10.2 overs.
Pollock removed Malik in his last spell when his well-camouflaged slower delivery was not spotted by Malik. He went through with the shot and was caught at deep mid-off by Abhishek Nayar for 24 (22 balls, 1x4).
When Dwayne Bravo trapped Dinesh Karthik leg before wicket for 28 to see the Daredevils reduced to 119/6 in 16.1 overs, he effectively shut the door on a Delhi-comeback.
Earlier, Jo Mahesh, with 3/33, was the pick of the bowling attack. Glenn McGrath, with 0/26 in four overs, again impressed with his masterful control of line and length and frustrated the Indians.
Teams:
Mumbai Indians: Ajinkya Rahane, Sanath Jayasuriya, Robin Uthapa, Dwayne Bravo, Shaun Pollock (captain), Abhiahek Nayar, Pinai Shah, Musavir Khote, Dilhara Fernando, Ashiah Nehra, Dhawai Kulkarni.
Delhi Daredevils: Virender Sehwag (captain), Gautam Gambhir, AB de Villiers, Shikhar Dhawan, Shoaib Malik, Dinesh Karthik, Rajat Bhatia, Yo Mahesh, Glenn McGrath, Pradeep Sangwan, Mohammad Asif.