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The ever-evolving genius of Kieron Pollard
Twenty20 is as much a game of finer calculations as it is of sheer power. On Saturday, Kieron Pollard showed what can be achieved if one mixes both in the right amount.
Chasing 219, Pollard smashed an unbeaten 87 off just 34 balls, studded with eight sixes and six fours, to take the Mumbai Indians to an improbable win against the Chennai Super Kings.
But when Pollard came out to bat, the task was even more daunting. Mumbai had lost three quick wickets and needed 132 runs from 62 balls.
The Super Kings had four pacers in their attack and Pollard knew each of them would bowl their quota of four overs. That would leave two spinners, Ravindra Jadeja and Moeen Ali, to carry out the fifth bowler's job.
Given the smaller boundaries at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, spinners were the easy targets. However, by the time Pollard marked his guard, 1.4 overs of spin had already been bowled. Krunal Pandya then managed just two runs in five balls of the third over spin. When Jadeja started the final over of spin, the 13th of the innings, Pollard was on strike. He knew it was his last chance to take advantage.
