IPL 2019: Had to break the target down with high asking rate – Kieron Pollard

Mumbai Indians looked all but out of the contest against Kings XI Punjab at the Wankhede stadium on Wednesday. The needed 54 runs off the last four overs and Kings XI Punjab was heading towards victory but Kieron Pollard, who was captaining the Mumbai Indians in place of Rohit Sharma who had suffered a leg injury, played a sensational knock by blasting 83 off 31 balls and the knock included three fours and 10 sixes. The knock by Pollard helped Mumbai Indians secure a thrilling three-wicket win off the last ball to register their highest successful chase at the Wankhede. Speaking after the end of the match, Pollard outlined what was going through his mind when playing the knock

“When I saw we needed 104 off 48, I knew we had to break it down. We got two big overs. We had a couple of bowlers whom we had to target and we did that and got the much needed two points chasing down 198. The guys rallied really well. That's why it's a team sport,” Pollard said.

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When asked whether this was his best knock, Pollard had mixed reactions but said the start provided was good in the big chase. “You can say yes, you can say no (whether it was his best knock ever). It's more important that we won the game. I stayed calm under pressure. I wanted to finish off the game. Keeping that calm head, in the end, was good. We got a start, 50-1 in power play at ten runs (actually a shade over 8) an over. We knew what we had to do. Well done boys. It was a very good batting track, brilliant (track),” Pollard said.

Pollard said Rohit Sharma being rested was precautionary and that he would be back for the next game. The knock by Pollard was described by Mumbai Indians all-rounder Hardik Pandya as ‘legendary’.

“Heart is pumping pretty fast. Pollard is a legend! One guy who could do this, it was Kieron Pollard. That time and situation needed, both of us had to go for it but I could not connect much. Pollard was backing himself and for the first time in my life while sitting outside I thought 17 per over is a par score. It was still better from the situation we started off from. If Polly was there, he could have finished it off one ball and obviously we didn't have any set batsman. Four runs, four balls I thought we got this game,” Pandya said.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Mumbai Indians secured their highest run-chase at home in the IPL.
• Kieron Pollard's knock included three fours and 10 sixes.
• Mumbai Indians secured their second straight win after beating Sunrisers Hyderabad.