CSK vs MI, 27th Match at Delhi, IPL, May 01 2021 - Ball by Ball Commentary

12am Whoa, that's a T20 finish for the ages. What a slugfest. Sure, the CSK bowlers missed their lengths, but it was some otherworldly power-hitting from that man Pollard. Hope you enjoyed our live coverage as much as we did bringing it to you. Until next time, this is Deivarayan Muthu, saying phew... Stay safe and take care.

Pollard (but who else?) is the Player of the Match: First of all, I want to thank the almighty for watching over me and giving me the strength. So, yeah, started to bowl [laughs]. Obviously being a small ground, we thought it was the best time for the seamer to bowl. They have four overs of spin on a small ground and I looked to hit some sixes against spin. I had to maximise that over from Jadeja. That would always keep us in the game. Each and every time as an individual you have to evolve. Guys bowl wide and a lot of practice goes into it. I can't say I'm 360, but I'm maximising it [hitting through the off side]. I was fortunate Faf gave me the chance. Good wicket, but the bowlers didn't do well for us. It was about time the batting stood out. Two wins in the last two games hopefully gives us the momentum into the back end of the tournament.

11.55pm Rohit: Probably one of the best T20 games that I've been part of. One of the best innings also you can say from Polly. I know it's always tough for the bowlers on a good pitch and smaller ground. We wanted to stay positive once we finished [bowling our] 20 overs. We got a good start and saw what happened. I mean we just had a brief chat [at the innings break] and said it was a good pitch. We had shot-makers in our batting line-up and we just wanted to take the game in the end. Brilliant partnership at the top and Krunal-Polly partnership was also there. We backed Krunal [at No.4] and he's coming off good form in domestic cricket. A left-hander always makes a difference even though they [CSK] have an offspinner. It suits our style of play and yes the bowlers will be under pressure, but that's where you back the bowlers. There will be games where the bowlers will go for runs, but it's important to back your core group of bowlers.

11.35pm Kulkarni leaps for joy and roars. Pollard looks skyward in prayer - more subdued celebrations from the T20 stalwart. Hardik sprints out of the dug-out and embraces Pollard. What a vintage finish from one of the greatest T20 players in the world. DJ Bravo steps out and exchanges hugs with his good friend and WI team-mate. Pollard reeled off a 17-ball half-century, dripping with power, and proceeded to an unbeaten 87 off 34 balls to help Mumbai mow down a target of 219, off the very last ball. Hardik sounds out a big warning for the other sides: "We've arrived at the right time in the tournament". Alright, my fingers are fried. I'll be back for the presentation, though. Do hang around, folks.

Dhoni: I think it was a brilliant wicket and I feel the difference between the two sides was the execution - how off we were. Without being too tough for the bowlers, catches do help. I felt we dropped catches at the crucial point. It doesn't hurt much when you're on the top of the table. If you look at how it really went, we were very off-target and against good batters who hit hard, it's important to execute the plans. Even if you don't get hit for one or two sixes, in the 20th over that can win you the game. It hurts but the spirits will be up. When you're under the pump, you learn more. Irrespective of where we are on the points table, we look at one game at a time. Ultimately, if you do that, the points table will take care of itself.

Sampath has another nugget for you. Most runs scored in the last 10 overs of a successful T20 chase: (Where BBB data is available)

144 - Trinbago Knight Riders vs St Lucia Stars, Gros Islet, 2018

139 - Jamaica Tallawahs vs Trinbago Knight Riders, Port of Spain, 2018

138 - Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings, Delhi, 2021

136 - Melbourne Renegades vs Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne, 2017

133 - Mumbai Indians vs Kings XI Punjab, Mumbai, 2019

If you missed it before the game, the Pandya brothers are donating 200 oxygen concentrators in rural areas for the fight against Covid-19

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CSK fan: "Very disappointed, but the last time there was so much adrenaline was the 2019 final. Why do we watch sports? Because of moments like these."

Gautham: "When Faf misses the catch you can tell it's isn't CSK's night. Thriller. Glad it's not a final unlike 2012 and 2019. "

Nandakiran : "Bravo instead of Ngidi is the only change required for CSK in their next match."

RajatMaheshwari: "@Cricinfo will this all-round performance of Pollard in this match go into your all time-performance of the IPL?" --- Two wickets and that whirlwind innings. It has to go into that list, right?

Sirish : "The T20 superman Pollard, only Pollard could do what he did countless times, so the MI engine warmed up and firing, watch out 2nd half of IPL."

Prasanna: "Curran's spell will be huge positive for CSK. Despite bowling 2 in death, he went for 4-0-34-3. His economy is less than Chahar who bowled 4 upfront. Don't forget that 17th over, it swung momentum back towards CSK.."

Hardik: After winning this kind of game, you've got to be pumped for the rest of the night. When he [Pollard] does something like this, you are genuinely speechless. He has done it again and again - it's inspirational to watch him do something this amazing. I'd love to finish the game, but for me I said after 210 the game can't get better than this. You got out swing. We've arrived at the right time of the tournament. This momentum will help us do wonders. Special mention to Polly! I'm proud of him.

Manu Ajmani: "Sensational! Unbelievable! Astounding! Incredible! A true masterclass from the T20 Hulk! Is this Mumbai team unbeatable or what? Year after year they keep demonstrating their prowess over the other teams, even CSK who has been looking invincible this season and can only blame themselves today! MI deserves this win! What a match! Phew!"

Anwar: "Faf winning the catch of the match might be the most ironically painful catch award in history"

Isuru Heendeniy: "After a long time I think this season we are going to have a clear division between top 4 and bottom 4.Top 4 will pull away because it seems they have clear plans in place compared to bottom 4 where they still planning."

Aman Brar: "The man of big moments shows his worth once again.. Just incredible "

MI need two off the last ball. Dhoni takes his glove off. Curiously enough, the field seems to be spread out

MI need 16 off the last over, to be bowled by Ngidi. Kulkarni has joined the T20 phenom Pollard

Manu Ajmani: "Sam Curran knows a thing or two about getting brothers out!"

Neesham joins Pollard. They know each other quite well, having played for TKR in the CPL

Curran

Just two runs and a wicket from that Curran over. Here comes Thakur