Kieron Pollard’s big hitting ensured Mumbai Indians responded to a hat-trick from Samuel Badree by defeating Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League on Friday.
Chasing 143 to win, the Mumbai innings had looked in real trouble at seven for four after West Indian leg-spinner Badree, who was making his debut for Bangalore, took the wickets of Parthiv Patel, Mitch McClenaghan and Rohit Sharma in successive balls.
But Badree’s hat-trick, only the 12th in IPL history, would prove in vain as Pollard and Krunal Pandya stabilised the innings with a stand of 93 for the sixth wicket.
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Pollard took centre stage as he hit five sixes and three boundaries in his 70 off 47 balls.
Although he fell with 17 still needed, Pandya (37 not out) held the innings together, and his younger brother, Hardik Pandya, struck the winning runs with a six to see Mumbai home on 145 for six and a third win in four games.
Badree, who had also taken the wicket of Nitish Rana, ended up on the losing side despite finishing with figures of four for nine from his four overs.
Bangalore had earlier made 142 for five in their 20 overs after being put into bat by Mumbai, with captain Virat Kohli top scoring with 62 off 47 balls on his return to the side following an injury absence, while Chris Gayle made 22.
McClengahan was the pick of the Mumbai bowling, taking two for 20 off his four overs.
Mumbai are back in action on Sunday at home to Gujarat Lions, while Bangalore will look to bounce back from a third loss in four games on the same day against Rising Pune Supergiant.
Meanwhile, in the day’s second game, the Gujarat Lions picked up their first win of the competition as they defeated Rising Pune Supergiant by seven wickets.
Pune made 171 for eight, with captain Steve Smith (43) top-scoring, but their innings fell away in the final over as Australian Andrew Tye (five for 17) took a hat-trick.
Gujarat got off to a strong start in reply as openers Brendon McCullum (49) and Dwayne Smith (47) put on 94 for the first wicket, and they cantered home with two overs to spare on 172 for three, with the win sealed by two successive sixes from Aaron Finch (33 not out).
* The National staff
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