Pollard blitz gives Mumbai crucial win over Bangalore
Kieron Pollard (35 not out off 19) and Jos Buttler (29 not out 11) combined well towards the end to give their side a much-needed win © BCCI
Virat Kohli had no qualms in admitting that an out of touch Chris Gayle was dropped, and not rested, for Royal Challengers Bangalore's previous two games. Travis Head, who had replaced Gayle hadn't spent too much time in the middle given the bulk of runs that came from the top order. But a raucous cheer broke out at the M Chinnaswamy stadium on Wednesday (May 11) after the toss when Kohli declared that Gayle was back for their clash against Mumbai Indians.
Mumbai Indians backed their decision to bowl first, keeping the hosts' batsmen in check from the onset. Early wickets on a pitch that wasn't the customary Bangalore one that aided run-scoring pegged the home side back, but on the back of a resilient half-century from home boy KL Rahul, they finished with 151 for 4. Having conceded more than 170 in all the games so far, the tale was the same for the Royal Challengers as they conceded a six-wicket victory to Mumbai Indians, who jumped to fourth place - finishing with 153 for 4 in 18.4 overs.
S Aravind, who came in for Iqbal Abdulla, struck off his first ball as Parthiv Patel edged to Shane Watson at first slip. Rohit Sharma and Ambati Rayudu steadied the ship with a half-century stand. Royal Challengers Bangalore's fielding saw a stark improvement from the game against Rising Pune Supergiants; they backed their bowlers, threw in dives to save runs and not just holding onto their catches, but pulling off some stunners.
Varun Aaron came in to bowl the tenth over after Rayudu and Rohit went after Chris Jordan, who was taken for 21 off two. Aaron picked up his first wicket of the season on the third ball, after Rohit holed out to AB de Villiers at long on for 25, eliciting a rather pumped up celebration from Kohli.
Rayudu smashed a massive six off Aaron and then survived two close chances; first, a top-edge fell short of Gayle who was coming in rather slowly from short third man, and a stumping appeal. Nitish Rana though, was sent back by a screamer Stuart Binny took on the cover boundary - running to his left and clasping it on a full-stretch leap. Yuzvendra Chahal wrapped up a brilliant spell conceding 16 in his four with the wicket of Rana.
After bowling the fifth, Watson gave away 13 in the 15th over, reducing the equation to 54 runs off the last five. De Villiers then pulled off a stunner on the long on boundary, running in and completing the catch with a dive and a subsequent tumble, to dismiss Rayudu for 44. Watson's subsequent over gave away 18 to put victory within Mumbai's reach.
Pollard was his usual destructive self, using brute force to clear the fence in a knock that had two sixes and three fours - all of which came against Watson. Jordan conceded 16 and with just ten 10 to get, Buttler wrapped up proceedings with an unbeaten 11-ball 29, while Pollard was unbeaten on 35 off 19.
The ball struggled to come onto the bat with variable bounce on offer - as a result of which, Bangalore finished the powerplay with 25 for 2. Rohit, in an unusual field placement, had a fly slip in for Mitchell McClenaghan in the second over. The move worked to precision as Kohli, who was playing his 133rd match for RCB - the most by any player for a team - registered his first single digit score in a Twenty20 all year, edging the first ball to Harbhajan Singh for 7.
Gayle's poor run in the ninth edition of the Indian Premier continued as he mistimed the next ball after a boundary straight to Rohit at mid off for 5. After a half-century in the previous match, AB de Villiers offered Harbhajan a tough chance in the tenth over, but perished in the next for 24 off 27, Krunal Pandya picking up a much-deserved wicket. Krunal, who did de Villiers in with extra bounce, mixed up his pace effectively, showcasing the variety of deliveries in his arsenal before eventually finishing his quota of overs for 1-15.
Mumbai's diligence in the field made Bangalore work hard for their runs. Rahul received treatment for a twisted ankle, but luckily for the homeside, it wasn't serious. With Bangalore's batsmen unable to let loose, a McClenaghan over that yielded 15 runs switched momentum in their favour, until which 150 looked far-fetched.
Watson was run out by a brilliant direct throw from Rohit at extra cover, after which, Rahul and Sachin Baby took charge with some clean hitting and smart batting en route an unbeaten 53-run stand that came in just 4.3 overs.
While Harbhajan, McClenaghan and Bumrah had one over up their sleeve, Rohit turned to Pollard in the 18th. Pollard was greeted by a six off Rahul; Baby then smashed the all-rounder for successive sixes and a four, and with 23 runs coming off that over, Bangalore surged to 131 from 108.
Rahul got to his fourth half-century of the tournament in 42 balls, remaining unbeaten on 68, while Baby's 13-ball 25-run cameo came in handy as Bangalore scored the lowest total at the venue this season.
Mumbai Indians backed their decision to bowl first, keeping the hosts' batsmen in check from the onset. Early wickets on a pitch that wasn't the customary Bangalore one that aided run-scoring pegged the home side back, but on the back of a resilient half-century from home boy KL Rahul, they finished with 151 for 4. Having conceded more than 170 in all the games so far, the tale was the same for the Royal Challengers as they conceded a six-wicket victory to Mumbai Indians, who jumped to fourth place - finishing with 153 for 4 in 18.4 overs.
S Aravind, who came in for Iqbal Abdulla, struck off his first ball as Parthiv Patel edged to Shane Watson at first slip. Rohit Sharma and Ambati Rayudu steadied the ship with a half-century stand. Royal Challengers Bangalore's fielding saw a stark improvement from the game against Rising Pune Supergiants; they backed their bowlers, threw in dives to save runs and not just holding onto their catches, but pulling off some stunners.
Varun Aaron came in to bowl the tenth over after Rayudu and Rohit went after Chris Jordan, who was taken for 21 off two. Aaron picked up his first wicket of the season on the third ball, after Rohit holed out to AB de Villiers at long on for 25, eliciting a rather pumped up celebration from Kohli.
Rayudu smashed a massive six off Aaron and then survived two close chances; first, a top-edge fell short of Gayle who was coming in rather slowly from short third man, and a stumping appeal. Nitish Rana though, was sent back by a screamer Stuart Binny took on the cover boundary - running to his left and clasping it on a full-stretch leap. Yuzvendra Chahal wrapped up a brilliant spell conceding 16 in his four with the wicket of Rana.
After bowling the fifth, Watson gave away 13 in the 15th over, reducing the equation to 54 runs off the last five. De Villiers then pulled off a stunner on the long on boundary, running in and completing the catch with a dive and a subsequent tumble, to dismiss Rayudu for 44. Watson's subsequent over gave away 18 to put victory within Mumbai's reach.
Pollard was his usual destructive self, using brute force to clear the fence in a knock that had two sixes and three fours - all of which came against Watson. Jordan conceded 16 and with just ten 10 to get, Buttler wrapped up proceedings with an unbeaten 11-ball 29, while Pollard was unbeaten on 35 off 19.
The ball struggled to come onto the bat with variable bounce on offer - as a result of which, Bangalore finished the powerplay with 25 for 2. Rohit, in an unusual field placement, had a fly slip in for Mitchell McClenaghan in the second over. The move worked to precision as Kohli, who was playing his 133rd match for RCB - the most by any player for a team - registered his first single digit score in a Twenty20 all year, edging the first ball to Harbhajan Singh for 7.
Gayle's poor run in the ninth edition of the Indian Premier continued as he mistimed the next ball after a boundary straight to Rohit at mid off for 5. After a half-century in the previous match, AB de Villiers offered Harbhajan a tough chance in the tenth over, but perished in the next for 24 off 27, Krunal Pandya picking up a much-deserved wicket. Krunal, who did de Villiers in with extra bounce, mixed up his pace effectively, showcasing the variety of deliveries in his arsenal before eventually finishing his quota of overs for 1-15.
Mumbai's diligence in the field made Bangalore work hard for their runs. Rahul received treatment for a twisted ankle, but luckily for the homeside, it wasn't serious. With Bangalore's batsmen unable to let loose, a McClenaghan over that yielded 15 runs switched momentum in their favour, until which 150 looked far-fetched.
Watson was run out by a brilliant direct throw from Rohit at extra cover, after which, Rahul and Sachin Baby took charge with some clean hitting and smart batting en route an unbeaten 53-run stand that came in just 4.3 overs.
While Harbhajan, McClenaghan and Bumrah had one over up their sleeve, Rohit turned to Pollard in the 18th. Pollard was greeted by a six off Rahul; Baby then smashed the all-rounder for successive sixes and a four, and with 23 runs coming off that over, Bangalore surged to 131 from 108.
Rahul got to his fourth half-century of the tournament in 42 balls, remaining unbeaten on 68, while Baby's 13-ball 25-run cameo came in handy as Bangalore scored the lowest total at the venue this season.
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