Pollard power keeps Mumbai on top

Mumbai gave another demonstration of the depth of their batting talent, as two men who have who have had little batting time this season, T Suman and Kieron Pollard, fired them to a competitive total after Pune's spinners had initially shackled them.

Pollard has had little to do with the bat for Mumbai this season, barely getting a chance to showcase his talent as the top order led by Sachin Tendulkar has regularly delivered. This time though he got about half an hour, enough time to get his eye in and launch an onslaught.

Mumbai were dithering at 96 for 4 when he came to the crease in the 15th over. Initially, he was patient, letting Suman do most of the scoring but he took over after Suman's exit. The first indication was when he drilled Jerome Taylor flat and hard beyond long-off and into the Pune dugout.

Next to get the Pollard treatment was Alfonso Thomas, who was carted for 27 runs in the penultimate over. First he nearly struck umpire Kumar Dharmasena with a powerful straight drive for four, then skipped beyond leg and pulled a short ball from Thomas over long-on for six, before muscling a four just past the long-off fielder.

His unbeaten 28 lifted Mumbai to a competitive total, and then he chipped in with his crafty medium-pace, getting a wicket to trip up an already struggling Pune Warriors, who have now lost seven in a row.