DURBAN, South Africa, CMC – A late flurry from Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo failed to ignite the Mumbai Indians, and the South Australia Redbacks prevailed by five wickets in a tense Champions League Twenty20 match yesterday.
Pollard struck two fours and three sixes in 36 from 21 balls, and Bravo hit four fours in 22 from 12 balls, as the Indians reached 180 for seven from their allocation of 20 overs in the seventh match of the competition at Kingsmead Stadium.
Daniel Harris then smote 56 from 37 balls, and his captain Michael Klinger pummelled 50 from 48 balls in an opening stand of 112 to give the Redbacks the impetus for a victory with four balls to spare, and virtually eliminate the Indians.
Pollard and Bravo were part of the T&T side that lost to the New South Wales Blues last year in India, and gave the Mumbai innings a late boost, after they wobbled to 137 for five in the 17th over.
Pollard smashed Shaun Tait for the biggest six in the competition so far in the penultimate over before slicing the first ball of the final over to Callum Ferguson at third man, when Daniel Christian undid him with a slower delivery.
Bravo was less spectacular in adding 33 from 19 balls with Pollard before he was run out forcing a second run off the penultimate ball of Mumbai’s innings. Inept fielding and loose bowling from Mumbai gifted a keenly poised match to South Australia with a series of spilled catches and misfields.
Harris was caught at extra cover off Ali Murtaza in the 14th over, and Klinger followed an over later to leave the Aussies 116 for two.
When they slipped to 158 for eight in the 19th over, they looked in danger of falling short, but South Australia kept swinging for the fences, and their momentum saw them hit the target, having struck 69 runs off the final five overs.
Bravo bowled his four overs for 46 runs, and Pollard was belted for 16 from his solitary over.
