IPL 2018: 3 memorable clashes between MI and KKR at the Wankhede

#1 Hardik Pandya’s 61 and Kieron Pollard’s last over heroics with the ball help Mumbai register a famous win - 2015

In a crucial encounter, Mumbai Indians were put into bat first. Lendl Simmons and Parthiv Patel opened the innings and the pair added 29 runs for the first wicket before Parthiv was holed out at deep midwicket region of the bowling of Shakib al Hasan for 21. Simmons didn’t last long as he handed over a simple catch into the hands of the third man off the bowling of Morne Morkel for 14.

Skipper Rohit Sharma scored freely during his innings of 30 of 21 balls. But he couldn’t capitalise on his start as he was bowled off the bowling of Sunil Narine and at this juncture, Mumbai Indians were 4-79 with more than 8 overs to spare.

Hardik Pandya, who playing his debut IPL season walked into bat to partner Kieron Pollard. He took the attack to the opposition as he blazed away to a swashbuckling 61 of just 31 balls. He was particularly severe against Umesh Yadav as he smashed the fast bowler for 4 consecutive fours in the 17th over. He followed it up by Andre Russell for 2 fours and 1 gigantic six in the 19th over. The last 5 overs yielded 72 runs largely due to Hardik Pandya. Kieron Pollard played a subdued knock of 33 in 38 balls.

Mumbai Indians ended up with171/4 in 20 overs. Shakib al Hasan was the pick of the bowlers with 2 wickets.

In reply, Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa got the team off to a good start. The pair added 45 runs for the first wicket before Robin Uthappa handed over a catch to the short fine leg of the bowling of Harbhajan Singh. Manish Pandey didn’t bother to trouble the scorers as he was run-out for 1 in the next over.

Gautam Gambhir and Yusuf Pathan resurrected the chase and the pair added 42 runs for the 3rd wicket before Gautam Gambhir yorked himself to be bowled off the bowling of Jagadeesha Suchith for 38.

Yusuf Pathan and Shakib kept finding the fence and Kolkata were on course for a famous victory before things started to unfold. 3 wickets fell in the span of 3 overs thanks to some rash that accounted for wickets of Shakib (23), Andre Russell (2), Suryakumar Yadav (11). At one stage Kolkata required 28 runs in 17 balls with Yusuf Pathan and Piyush Chawla at the crease. Mumbai Indians kept bowling tight and the equation was down to 12 runs required off the last over with Yusuf Pathan batting on 52 not out.

The last over responsibility was handed over to Kieron Pollard and he delivered by removing the priced wicket of Yusuf Pathan, who top-edged a slower short ball to the wicketkeeper. Umesh Yadav eeked out a boundary, with the help of poor fielding by Lasith Malinga who dived over the ball and it ran away for four. Umesh Yadav handed over the strike to Piyush Chawla by taking a single off the next ball.

Pollard bowled an off-cutter that went too far and wide was declared. Now the equation was 6 required off 3 balls. Pollard struck to his slower ball theory and delivered one on the 4th ball to which Piyush Chawla couldn’t make contact. On the 5th ball, Pollard once again pushed one wide of the off stump, Chawla once again failed to make contact trying to hit one across the line only to be missed.

6 runs were required off the last ball and Kieron Pollard once again delivered a slower delivery to which Piyush Chawla danced down the pitch only to be missed. With this Mumbai pulled off a stunning victory. The entire Mumbai Indians team along with the crowd was jubilant. The team pounced on Kieron posiPollard who pulled off a terrific last over that ensured Mumbai Indians had a famous victory.

Mumbai Indians won the game by 5 runs and for his whirl winding knock of 61 of 31 balls, Hardik Pandya was awarded Man of the Match.