Champions League T20
Pollard keeps Mumbai alive
2010-09-16 21:37
Durban - Kieran Pollard blasted the Mumbai Indians to a 31-runs victory over Guyana in their Airel Champions League T20 match at Kingsmead on Thursday evening.
In the process they kept alive their hopes of reaching the semi-finals and their winning margin in this match could be significant if qualification comes down to run rate.
The Indians have one remaining match against the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the same venue on Sunday and this will be decisive if they are to qualify.
Pollard smashed his way to 72 off 30 balls and that made the big difference in the end.
Guyana, batting second, were level with Mumbai right up to the 18th over but they lacked the firepower that Pollard had produced.
Pollard was responsible for the Mumbai Indians scoring 40 runs in their last two overs and that made all the difference in the end.
Guyana also paid a heavy price for dropped catches and general sloppiness in the field which gave away a lot of unnecessary runs.
Guyana still have two matches to play against the Highveld Lions on Sunday and the South Australian Redbacks next Tuesday both at the Wanderers Stadium and are not out of semi-final qualification yet.
Not surprisingly Pollard was named man of the man for his innings that included 9 sixes and 1 four.