Pollard shines as Mumbai Indians beat Sunrisers

AGENCIES

NEW DELHI KIERON POLLARD and Rohit Sharma powered Mumbai Indians to a thrilling 7-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad to stay unbeaten at their home ground, on Monday. The duo helped Mumbai chase down a massive 179-run target in the final over.

Pollard stayed unbeaten at 66 while Sharma made 20.

Karan Sharma gave Hyderabad control by dismissing Dinesh Karthik (30) and Ambati Rayudu (2) in quick succession after Sachin Tendulkar went back, being retired hurt.

At the score of 94, Tendulkar was seen walking back to pavilion massaging his left palm.

After addition of a run on board, Karthik gave gave an easy catch to Cameron White off Sharma. In his next over, Sharma struck again to dismiss Rayudu cheaply, reducing Mumbai to 99/3 in 13.2 overs.

Ishant Sharma gave Mumbai first blow by dismissing Dwayne Smith (21) in the fourth over after Sunrisers Hyderabad posted 178/3.

Ishant bowled out Smith after 26-run opening stand.

Earlier, Shikhar Dhawan led the way with a stroke-filled half-century as Sunrisers Hyderabad set a challenging 179 for Mumbai Indians.

Electing to bat, Dhawan made a fluent 41-ball 59 laced with six fours and two sixes and later captain Cameron White played a breezy knock of 43 off 23 balls to enthrall a near sell-out crowd at the Wankhede Stadium.

Incidentally, this was the highest team total posted by the Hyderabad franchise in this edition.

Sunrisers started off well with wicket-keeper batsman Parthiv Patel scoring a 19- ball 26 and sharing a 38-run partnership with Dhawan for the opening wicket before being caught by Ambati Rayudu off Lasith Malinga at deep square leg.

Dhawan, who had earlier smashed an unbeaten 55-ball 73 against the same opposition on May 1, then found an ably ally in next man-in Hanuma Vihari and both mixed caution with aggression to take the team’s total past 100-run mark. Dhawan, in the process, brought up his fifty with a drive through covers off Malinga.

Both added 73 runs for the second-wicket stand before Dhawan was caught by Dinesh Kathik behind the stumps off Mitchell Johnson.

White joined hands with Vihari in the middle and continued the onslaught.