ADELAIDE, Australia, CMC – A tidy all-round performance from Kieron Pollard helped South Australia to a 55-run victory over compatriot Dwayne Bravo and Victoria in the Twenty20 Big Bash yesterday.
Pollard scalped one wicket for eight runs in two overs, as Victoria, chasing 172 for victory, were dismissed for 116 in 17 overs at the Adelaide Oval. The result was the first victory for South Australia, after their lost the opening match of the competition against New South Wales.
Pollard had earlier struck two fours and two sixes in 35 from 19 balls to boost South Australia to 171 for three from their allocation of 20 overs, after they chose to bat. He dominated an unbroken, fourth-wicket stand of 48 with opener Michael Klinger, whose 76 from 53 balls was the top score and included four fours and two sixes.
Bravo continued to leak runs with the ball, conceding 29 in two wicket-less overs.
Pollard, a 23-year-old all-rounder from Trinidad & Tobago, then snared the wicket of Victoria wicketkeeper/batsman Matthew Wade for one in the fifth over, and later held a catch to dismiss new Australia T20 captain Cameron White off Daniel Christian for the Victoria top score of 43.
Bravo, batting at six, failed to make-up for his poor bowling, when he was dismissed for a painstaking eight.
South Australia are currently second in the standings on two points behind NSW, whose net run rate is superior, and have a match in hand.