JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, CMC – Big-hitting West Indies batsman Kieron Pollard shone all too briefly as his Mumbai Indians team suffered a shock nine-run loss to the unfancied Highveld Lions in the opening game of the Champions League Twenty20 yesterday.
The right-hander slammed two sixes and a four in scoring a swift 19 from nine balls but Mumbai were limited to 177 for six in pursuit of 187 for victory at the New Wanderers Stadium.
Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar carved out a typically flamboyant 69 from 42 balls at the top of the order but his efforts were not enough to put Mumbai over the top. He cracked nine fours in an 83-run opening stand of 59 balls with Shikhar Dhawan (32) but Mumbai slipped to 131 for three in the 15th over with his dismissal.
Pollard hammered the first delivery he received from medium pacer Shane Burger for six over mid-wicket and proceeded to smash the third and fifth ball for four and six respectively in an over that cost 16. Any ideas of a big innings were quickly squashed, however, as he was yorked off the final ball of the over.
Earlier, Man-of-the-Match Jonathan Vandiar top scored with 71 from 48 balls and Neil McKenzie got an unbeaten 56 off 30 balls, to set up the Lions’ total after they were sent in.
Sri Lankan speedster Lasith Malinga was the leading bowler with three for 33.
