NSW have the blues, thanks to Pollard

Updated on: 17 October,2009 07:30 AM IST |
Amol Karhadkar |

After watching a scintillating display of power-hitting yesterday evening, one wished the stands were filled to watch the Diwali firecrackers at the Champions League.

After watching a scintillating display of power-hitting yesterday evening, one wished the stands were filled to watch the Diwali firecrackers at the Champions League.

Nevertheless, those rare attendants got more than their money's worth in the late game between New South Wales Blues and Trinidad &u00a0 Tobago. The stars of the night were NSW openers Phillip Hughes (83 off 64) and David Warner (63 off 41)u00a0- who helped the Blues put 170 on the board with a 121-run partnership in just 15.

JOY! Kieron Pollard at Hyderabad last night. pic/suresh kk

1 oversu00a0- and Trinidad all-rounder Kieron Pollard (54 not out off 18 balls)u00a0 who single-handedly turned the match around to seal the Caribbean island's place in the semi-finals.

Thanks to Pollard's five sixes and as many boundaries, Trinidad and Tobago chased down the target of 171 with nine balls and four wickets to spare. Pollard had walked in to bat when T&T needed 80 runs off 42 balls.u00a0

Earlier in the Blues' innings, more than the switch hit that Warner attempted, the highlight came in the 12th over of the innings whenu00a0 Warner hit three sixes off leg-spinner Samuel Badree in an over that yielded 24 runs.