Sachin Tendulkar can't stop grinning after Kieron Pollard's blitzkrieg keeps Mumbai in the running for a semi-final spot
Sachin Tendulkar can't stop grinning after Kieron Pollard's blitzkrieg keeps Mumbai in the running for a semi-final spot
Kieron Pollard's shares on the market rose to such an extent that he could probably become the hottest property on the next Indian Premier League auction later this year in Mumbai.
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Having cost the Mumbai Indians $750 000 at the last auction and having paid his dues after a fantastic run in the 2010 IPL, Pollard took another giant step to show who is "king" in the Twenty20 arena.
Last night he lit up Sahara Stadium Kingsmead as he blasted nine sixes and one four in his 30-ball 72-run innings which helped the Mumbai Indians record their first win in the Champions League.
The Mumbai Indians scored 184-4 and then restricted Guyana to 153-7. But the Mumbai Indians still have a mountain to climb if they hope to reach the semi-final stages as they have a game against Royal Challengers Bangalore at Kingsmead on Sunday.
"I'm just so glad that he's playing in my team," said skipper Sachin Tendulkar, who was for once beaming from ear to ear.
Pollard rocked
"He can hit that ball. He showed it to all of us on the night. We knew what he could do but last night after being promoted him up the order--it was a plan to send him early if a wicket fell between the 10th and 12th overs--he got into a rhythm and rocked the Guyana outfit.
"It was an amazing show of batting skill. He knew what he was doing. I have never seen bowlers being mauled in that fashion as Kieron did."
Ramnaresh Sarwan, the Guyana captain, reiterated Tendulkar's sentiments saying that he had never in his career seen a batsman hit the ball as straight and as powerfully as his West Indian counterpart did.
"He was vicious. He felt no pain in his onslaught and it was a kind of brutality that you rarely see in cricket. He was just outstandingly brutal.
"He gained revenge for what we did to Trinidad in the semi-final of our domestic Twenty20 competition."
Pollard's half-century came off 26 balls with a four and six sixes.
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His timing was precise and his power hitting was mind-boggling.
'Felt good'
"I felt good at the crease. But I had to settle in before things started going my way. That pitch was fantastic--the bounce was even and the ball came on to the bat nicely.
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When I hit the first one in the slot it gave me the confidence to continue in the same vein.
"I suppose it was just my night but I'm glad I was able to get the runs on the board and win the game.
"To bat at No 3 is great and I'd like to have another opportunity," he said. Sunday's game against the Royal Challengers Bangalore is a "must-win" contest for the Mumbai Indians.
Tendulkar realises it and said: "They have a well-balanced side with some class players. It will be a good contest.
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We lifted our game to a new level last night but on Sunday we will have to raise the bar much higher. It will be a tough one but a game we will have to win."
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