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Pollock inspires Mumbai to fine win

Nandakumar Marar

The Indians’ captain played a crucial knock, scalped two and led well on the field

— Photo: Vivek Bendre

TELLING BLOW: Dominic Thornley got rid of the rampaging Virender Sehwag, much to the delight of skipper Shaun Pollock.

MUMBAI: Shaun Pollock made things happen as Mumbai Indians stunned Delhi Daredevils by 29 runs for an astonishing victory in the DLF Indian Premier League on Sunday. The home team captain struck three sixes in a 14-ball 33 — runs that proved critical in the final analysis — and then prodded his bowlers and fielders into action as Delhi, chasing 163, fell apart bit by bit to get bowled out for 133.

Gautam Gambhir, looking to overtake Rohit Sharma as the leading run-getter, ended with one off nine balls and Glenn McGrath finished his quota of overs without a wicket against his name.

Pollock’s influence was evident as Mumbai defended 162 at the D.Y. Patil stadium with the enthusiasm of a side willing to go that extra mile. The collective effort was good enough for the bottom placed team to pull down the league topper in 18.5 overs. Dhaval Kulkarni’s stretch on his follow-through to deflect a ferocious Virender Sehwag drive onto the stumps to run out AB de Villiers was just a sample of the adrenalin flowing. Robin Uthappa, patrolling at cover, chipped in with a smart catch to send back Gambhir.

Mumbai youngster Rohan Raje showed a cool head on debut in a two-over spell, giving away just 13 runs. Dominic Thornley, back into T20 action after recovering from a cut forehead in the opener, got rid of Sehwag just as the Delhi skipper was slipping into dominating mood.

Ashish Nehra proved his worth with a three for 25 just as his merit was being questioned. Saurabh Tiwari kept his eye on the ball, amidst the noise in the stands and glare of the floodlights, to pull off a steep catch in the deep as Delhi, cruising along on 82 for four in the 11th over, was put out like an open flame in the wind.

Belligerent mood

Sehwag, unfazed by the unexpected dismissal of de Villiers, got down to business.

He hit a huge six off Pollock, and sent Jayasuriya’s gentle spin over the ropes a couple of times, apart from a smattering of fierce cuts to the fence off the others.

Sharp catching by Uthappa at cover — latching on to a drive by Gambhir off Nehra and then snapping up Shikhar Dhawan off Pollock, brought Mumbai right back into the game as the Delhi middle-order, which came under scrutiny for only the second time in the event, capitulated.

Earlier, the home team, on the lookout for a huge total, opened with debutant Yogesh Takawale taking first strike.

Jayasuriya looked in fine nick, footwork fluent and timing in place, beginning with a cover drive off McGrath followed by a flick to the fine leg fence.

Mohd. Asif was next in line for punishment, the Lankan making room for a boundary to cover.

Takawale, rotating strike and looking at ease, made room to square-cut McGrath to the fence for his first boundary as Mumbai’s openers got off to a brisk start.

Then, Yomahesh sent back both batsmen — Takawales eagerness to attack saw him slash at a ball without getting in line, and Jayasuriya missed the line attempting a heave and had his stumps felled.

Thornley and Uthappa built on the boost from the openers, beginning with quick singles before the latter exploded into action with two sixes off seamer Rajat Bhatia. Thornley too played some forcing shots as the pair put on 52 off 42 balls for the third wicket, guiding the home team past the 100 off just 76 balls.

Bhatia, one the silent achievers in first-class cricket for Delhi, sent back Thornley, deceiving him with change of pace. After Abhishek Nayar’s early dismissal, it was up to Pollock. Three sixes off Asif’s last over spurred the total past 150.

The scores: Mumbai Indians: Y. Takawale c Sangwan b Yomahesh 14, S. Jayasuriya b Mahesh 34, D. Thornley b Bhatia 30, R. Uthappa c Malik b Sangwan 22, D. Bravo c Yomahesh b Malik 2, A. Nayar b Sehwag 2, S. Pollock c de Villiers b Yomahesh 33, S. Tiwary c Malik b Asif 9, R. Raje (not out) 6, A. Nehra (not out) 0; Extras (b-4, lb-2, nb-1, w-3) 10. Total (for eight in 20 overs) 162.

Fall of wickets: 1-46, 2-50, 3-12, 4-109, 5-112, 6-112, 7-126, 8-127.

Delhi Daredevils bowling: McGrath 4-0-26-0, Asif 4-0-46-1, Yomahesh 4-0-33-3, Sangwan 4-0-21-1, Bhatia 2-0-22-1, Sehwag 1-0-2-1, Malik 1-0-6-1.

Delhi Daredevils: G. Gambhir c Uthappa b Nehra 1, V. Sehwag c Pollock b Thornley 40, S. Dhawan c Uthappa b Pollock 1, A. de Villiers run out 21, S. Malik c Nayar b Pollock 24, D. Karthik lbw b Bravo 28, R. Bhatia c Uthappa b Nehra 9, P. Sangwan c Tiwari b Nehra 2, M. Asif c Nehra b Kulkarni 0, G. McGrath c Thornley b Kulkarni 0, Yomahesh (not out) 3; Extras (lb-3, nb-1) 4. Total (in 18.5 overs) 133.

Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-4, 3-37, 4-82 , 5-109 , 6-119, 7-130 , 8-130, 9-132.

Mumbai Indians bowling: Pollock 4-0-16-2, Nehra 4-0-25-3, Bravo 3-0-27-1, Kulkarni 2.5-0-18-2, Jayasuriya 1-0-16-0, Thornley 2-0-15-1, Raje 2-0-13-0.

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