Mumbai: Till the 16th over it was Sunrisers Hyderabad's game, but a blistering knock from Keiron Pollard changed the equation thereafter and Mumbai Indians won by seven wickets with three balls to spare at Wankdade Stadium on Monday.
Happy with the win, Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma was in all praise for Pollard. He said, "It was an important game for us. Hats off to Pollard. You don't need to tell him anything. He plays his natural game. Wankhede wicket has been brilliant throughout. We know the table is very tight. We pulled through. We don't want be complacent.”
On being asked about Sachin Tendulkar's injury, The Mumbai Indians skipper said that he hasn't got a chance to talk to him yet. “We have to check what's happening with Tendulkar [his arm]. I didn't get a chance to talk to him," said Rohit.
Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper Cameron White said, "For once, we posted a very good score. We were in the driver's seat and Kieron turned it Mumbai's favour. Kieron saw Steyn off and took on the other bowlers. He's not an easy person to bowl to,” said White, adding that Malinga bowled well at the death.
“It's a beautiful batting surface. We didn't take enough wickets up front. We need to win two from two to put some pressure on RCB," said White.
Quite satistfied with his knock that propelled his team to the top spot in IPL points table, Pollard said though he is a power hitter, he loves to bat as well.
Pollard, who hit Perera for three sixes and a four in an over said that it was an important game and it was just the matter of chasing the right bowler. "I didn't have any breakfast today. I woke up 1 p. m. It was an important game for us and I backed myself. It's just a matter of chasing the right bowler and Perera was the unlucky one,” said Pollard, who got the man-of-the-match award.
Pollard added, “Dwayne Bravo is one of my best friends. He has always backed me. My fingers have been battered. I have to tape all of them but the right hand is my bowling hand, so I can't do that. I am a power hitter but I love to bat as well. You have to take the good times, and the bad times."
By ISN