Flashback: Kieron Pollard’s match-winning knock in IPL 2013 final
Mumbai Indians are arguably the most decorated side in the Indian Premier League with as many as five titles in their trophy cabinet. It was back in 2013 when the Mumbai franchise first lifted the coveted title after projecting a dominant performance throughout the season. However, it was Kieron Pollard’s match-winning knock in the summit clash that handed the side its first title of the many that would follow.
In the final, Mumbai locked horns with the Chennai Super Kings in yet another final as it happened back in 2010 when the latter emerged victorious. However, the Ricky Ponting-led side wanted to turn the tables in their favour and clinch their first trophy.
As the title match began, the Mumbai Indians were batting first, the side swiftly lost four wickets and slipped to 52 for 4 in the tenth over on a Kolkata deck. The onus was on Kieron Pollard, the most explosive hitter of the side to get the side to a respectable total in their stipulated 20 overs.
The swashbuckling right-hander came in at six and immediately hit the ground running without wasting any time. Starting with a boundary, the batter dispatched the ball into the stands or atleast found a boundary in almost every other over he was at the crease. Just when Ambati Rayudu’s wicket was scalped by Dwayne Bravo, Pollard shifted gears and buckled down to take the innings deeper.
The Caribbean batter continued his slam-banging innings that included seven boundaries and three maximums with a score of 60 of mere 32 balls. In the 20th over, the first of the final two balls was flicked by Pollard for a humongous maximum followed by yet another six in the next ball. The batter just did not seem in any mood to stop the battering he gave the Chennai side. A respectable total of 149 was attained by the Mumbai franchise, thanks to Pollard who saved the side the blushes in the summit clash.
In response, the Chennai batters were no match to the Mumbai bowling unit who quickly scalped a few wickets mounting the pressure on the MS Dhoni-led team. Dhoni scored a hard-fought 63 off just 45 balls but it was not enough to get the side ahead in the match.
Eventually, Mumbai went on to lift their first title and this would not have been the case if it weren’t for Kieron Pollard’s blistering knock.
