and that's that! Back of a length outside off. Hardik clears the front leg and flat-bats a hammering shot down to long on. Simple catch for Hooda on the long-on boundary line but the ball bursts through his hands! Mumbai Indians win by six wickets
Mumbai won by 6 wickets (with 6 balls remaining)
10.10pm: Kieron Pollard bowled six balls and batted seven balls - and created enough of an impact to be the clear Player of the Match. And on that note, we'll bid you goodbye from all of us tonight. The IPL caravan rolls on, so don't forget to join us tomorrow.
Kieron Pollard is the Player of the Match: (300th wicket gesture) Very important. Bowling's a bit under-rated eh! I just try to do my best whenever I get the opportunity. If needed, Rohit would have thrown the ball for me another over, but sometimes you just quit when you're ahead. (for his batting, who to target) You watch the trend of all the matches going and see who will bowl. (On his bowling). For me to get these wickets, I'll take it each and every time. When you're out of form, the boundary looks like it's 150 metres. I don't have pace, I don't have spin, I don't have swing, I don't have swing, but I have a little bit of brain! It was important to get the two points. Took 19 overs to get to the target but the two points was more important. Maybe it can spark something in the dressing room.
Rohit Sharma, the winning captain: As a team we didn't play to our potential, but these things happen when you play in such a format where you're competing really hard. It's important to stay within the group, stick with each other. It's a long tournament. Yes we didn't have the run we would have liked but we have been in this situation many times so we can take confidence from that. The guys we have in the squad are ready to fight. [On Hardik's batting] The way he understood the sitaution was important from the team perspective and for himself also. It's important he spent some time in the middle. (Dropping Ishan Kishan) was a very tough call but as a team we felt we needed a chance somewhere. But he looks very confident when you talk to him. Saurabh (Tiwary) was batting well, he got a 50 against CSK. We wanted someone who could nudge around. I'm not ruling out anyone, we want him (Ishan) to be back in form and playing for MI. (Pitches) Better than what we played in England! Towards the end of last year, it was pretty similar to what we are getting now. We need to change our tactics. There will be lots of change-ups from the opposition based on our batting line-up. (On Pollard) He's one of our key players. Been a crucial part of MI so many years. Give him the ball, give him the bat, he's ready to do the job. Those two wickets were crucial. He'll be happy getting the Man of the Match for his bowling performance.
10.00pm: Presentations coming up.
Ravi Bishnoi's spell, sadly, will be a footnote in the game since Mumbai are victorious. His two wickets in two balls really put Mumbai on the backfoot. But the champion team crawled out of the trouble with important contributions from their 'hallowed' but 'in the spotlight' middle order.
KL Rahul, losing captain: "Good fight from the bowlers, but we didn't score enough. This was the best deck we have played on. We should've got 170. The next three games will be really interesting for us. We haven't been able to handle the pressure over the tournament. Take it one game at a time will be the chat. We will also try to enjoy the games and not worry about the results. All the UAE games for us have gone to the wire."
Nalin: "Backing Tiwary for his maiden man of the match" -- Think it may be Pollard!
Aravind: "108 scored off the first 105 balls, then a ridiculous 29 off 9 to finish. Didn't see that coming!"
Amit: "Be afraid other teams. Be very afraid. Mumbai is BACK. "
9.34pm That familiar pair wins it for Mumbai Indians. A partnership of 45 in 23 balls, and that's sweet victory for the defending champs. At 92/4, Kings were slightly ahead in the game given the form that Pandya came into the game with.
Saravanan Sivak: "That improper wide call turned the match. Such a cruel game for bowlers" -- That was indeed a close call, but momentum changed from that ball, yes.
good length just outside off. He opens his stance and muscle a flat-batted shot. Just over midwicket and beats the two fielders in the deep too! Deep midwicket tries to stop it, Deepak Hooda tries to dive from long on. Both fail
back of a length, outside off. Flat-batted over cover. Long off and deep extra cover converge, and Pooran puts in the dive to stop the four
back of a length outside off. Angling into off stump. No protection at third man, and so that's an obvious shot for Pandya. Cuts it over the infield, and it goes over short third man for four
back of a length wider outside off. Can cut it square but the extra bounce takes the ball over the bat to the keeper
Harshdeep: "Arshdeep would have won PBKS the match. Tremendous first 3 balls. Tight call for wide and then it went south from there. Sad for someone who's been so consistent."
Silly.Point: "This seems to be the trend in this half of the IPL: the sudden cameo at the end to make a mockery of the match situation till then - Jadeja, Narine, now Pollard. "
full and wide outside off. Muscles a sloggy shot to long on for a single
full on middle. Goes deep in his crease and looks to smack it straight back. In the air, but Arshdeep can't grab it with his left hand. Bursts through his fingers again, and umpire Virender Sharma ducks for cover one more time. 13 off the over, the most expensive of the innings
Abhijeet: "Will the master and protege finish it off ?"
Shaun: ""He looks up to him after all" - That's the height of silly humor "
up and over! In the slot after bowling so well today. And Pollard was waiting for that length. Full and wide, and Pollard walks to the off side before drilling a six over long off
Two balls to go in the over.
full toss outside off and Pollard simply leans into a cover drive. Through the infield to the wide long off region for four!
from all over the world to bat for you, Pollard and Pandya would be the first choice."
yorker length, but just outside leg stump. Umpire gives it a wide even though the ball could've hit Pollard's boot if he didn't change his stance
full just outside off. Opens the bat's face and drills a shot to deep backward point for a single
full outside off stump. Angling away again. Can't hit it through
full and wide outside off. Successfully bowls the wide yorker. Hardik can't get bat on ball. Inside the tramlines too!
Sheldon Smith: "Pollard being at the wicket will give Hadik confidence. He looks up to him after all"
Jasbir Singh: "Punjab kings should change their team's name punjab entertainment as they are entertaining us in every match"
good length just outside off. This time he clobbers the cut through the infield to deep point
back of a length outside off again. Another cut attempted. Misses the shot once again
short and wide. Takes the pace off slightly too. Hardik looks to cut but misses
flicked with ease! Fullish on leg stump, Pandya clears the front leg and uses his bottom hand to smack it over midwicket for a 97m six
Jay: "Ravi Bishnoi into 5th over?" -- It's Shami. Small technical glitch. It will be fixed asap! Thank you.
good length on off. Hardik stays put in his crease, opens the leg side, and pulls it hard through midwicket for a one-bounce four! Played with disdain
back of a length on off and sharply angling in. Hardik doesn't sway away, doesn't duck, it hits him near the shoulder. Hardik unmoved. Just shrugs it off
SHRAVAN: "did anyone remember Punjab winning in the second super over last year against MI?" -- Shami supremacy that night.
good length on middle, and worked through midwicket to the fielder in the deep
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi | |
Toss | Mumbai Indians, elected to field first |
Series | |
Season | 2021 |
Player Of The Match | |
Hours of play (local time) | 18.00 start, First Session 18.00-19.30, Interval 19.30-19.50, Second Session 19.50-21.20 |
Match days | 28 September 2021 - night (20-over match) |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee | |
Points | Mumbai Indians 2, Punjab Kings 0 |
Over 19 • MI 137/4
Mumbai won by 6 wickets (with 6 balls remaining)