Big-Hitting Pollard Sets Up Vital Mumbai Indians Win

Big-Hitting Pollard Sets Up Vital Mumbai Indians Win

Mumbai Indians celebrate a wicket during their comprehensive win over Guyana

©REUTERS/Rogan Ward (SOUTH AFRICA - Tags: SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

Mumbai Indians 184-4 (Pollard 72no, Tendulkar 48) beat
Guyana 153-6 (Sarwan 46, Bravo 2-18) by 31 runs
Champions League Group B, Durban

The Mumbai Indians gave their Champions League Twenty20 campaign a much-needed boost with a comprehensive 31-run win over Guyana in Durban.

Batting first, Kieron Pollard smacked 72 and Sachin Tendulkar made 48 to guide the Indian Premier League runners-up to a score of 184 for four.

That proved insurmountable for Caribbean champions Guyana, who closed on 153 for six.

Pollard blasted one four and nine sixes in his explosive unbeaten innings that lasted 30 balls to put the Mumbai team into a strong position.

Openers Tendulkar and Shikhar Dhawan (39) had set a solid initial platform, with Tendulkar dominating an opening partnership worth 82.

Guyana hit back as Devendra Bishoo returned three for 34.

However, Guyana slumped to their second loss as they failed to threaten their target despite captain Ramnaresh Sarwan's 46 in 38 balls.

A pair of wickets apiece for Dwayne Bravo and Harbhajan Singh pegged them back and they were unable to keep up with the asking rate, which enabled Mumbai to run out relatively comfortable winners.

There was also a wicket apiece for opening bowlers Zaheer Khan and Lasith Malinga.

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