Pollard powers Mumbai to an easy win by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Ground:	Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai
Scorecard:	Mumbai Indians v Delhi Daredevils
Player:	KA Pollard, DA Warner
Event:	Indian Premier League 2009/10

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DateLine: 13th April 2010

 

Mumbai Indians continued their golden run in the third edition of the IPL 2010 as they crushed Delhi Daredevils by 39 runs. The hosts after electing to bat first posted a huge total of 183 for the loss of 4 wickets and the Delhi side in reply could manage just 144 in 20 overs for the loss of seven wickets.

 

After electing to bat first the Delhi bowlers did well to keep the host's batsmen on a tight leash. Debutant Madan (15, 19b, 3x4) and skipper Tendulkar (30, 26b, 3x4) were not allowed to get off to a flier and the pressure brought about the wickets. Madan tried to deposit McDonald over square-leg but found Mishra while Tendulkar went for the lofted cover-drive and found de Villiers waiting there at covers. Once the second half of the innings began the young guns in the form of Tiwary and Rayudu opened up.

 

The pair found the boundary ropes almost regularly as the run-rate began to improve. Once Tiwary (38, 28b, 2x6, 1x4) was cleaned up by an off-cutter from Sangwan, Duminy joined Rayudu in the middle and the pair continued the good work. The pair set the stage for big-hitter like Pollard who made full use of the foundation.

 

The burly right-hander hammered the daylights out of the Delhi bowlers as he cleared the boundary ropes five times to score a scintillating 45 of just 13 balls. The late-order hitting from Pollard helped the hosts to reach 183 in 20 overs.

 

Delhi Daredevils in reply got off to a excellent start as Warner (31, 15b, 1x6, 5x4) blazed away. The tiny southpaw was in irresistible form as the Mumbai bowlers seem to run out of ideas. Finally a slower ball from Fernando to end Warner's stay and from there it was downhill for the visitors.

 

Skipper Gambhir (17, 9b, 3x4) gave a return catch to Harbhajan Singh while the run-out malady spilled into this encounter as Sehwag (20, 18b, 3x4) was found just short of the crease. The rest of the batsmen caved in lamely as the visitors could manage just 144 in their 20 overs.