Pollard blasts Mumbai to 183

20 overs Mumbai Indians 183 for 4 (Pollard 45*, Tiwary 38) v Delhi Daredevils

Delhi Daredevils' bowlers had put in a spirited display, reining in the Mumbai Indians batsmen in an innings that flowed more like an ODI than a Twenty20, before Kieron Pollard finally lived up to his bumper signing and boosted his team to a challenging score. Tight lines and largely accurate lengths, backed up by some movement and bounce, ensured the big shots were kept at bay for most of the innings but Pollard, with support from JP Duminy, capitalised on poor bowling by the seamers at the death to leave Delhi with a stiff task.

In what could turn out to be the match-turning event, Gautam Gambhir bestowed Andrew McDonald with the responsibility of bowling the game's last over despite Pollard's lack of conviction against spin today. He ended up doling out two full tosses and a short delivery that were dismissed for sixes in an over worth 25, and concluded Mumbai's innings with 75 off the last five.

There were early signs of streakiness from the Mumbai batsmen as Ashish Nehra and Pradeep Sangwan were both unfortunate, being inside-edged for boundaries off inswingers. There were only two intended boundaries struck in the Powerplay, as Tendulkar opted for a game of steady building and leaving enough ammunition in store for the late surge. The attacking approach was to come from the other end, but Chandan Madan, playing his first game this IPL, was unable to combat Andrew McDonald's bouncer and top-edged a catch to short fine leg.

Tendulkar looked busy during his innings, driving Amit Mishra inside out and attempting to late-cut and paddle McDonald. Despite the stead progress, the boundaries were cut off, and Tendulkar was caught at extra cover, tring to clear the off-side field in the 10th over. Mumbai, at the halfway stage in their innings, had limped to 66 for 2, their slowest start in the tournament.

Ambati Rayudu and Saurabh Tiwary, Mumbai's go-to men after Tendulkar, showed more desperation, breaking a 28-ball boundary drought. Tiwary was the more aggressive, smoking two sixes and a four before being deceived by a slower delivery from Sangwan to be bowled.

Duminy gave Mumbai the much-needed release in the 16th over, scoring three consecutive boundaries off Mishra, and Pollard mixed craftiness with power at the death, mistiming a ball for six and scooping Nehra over the ropes behind fine leg. Aiming for the blockhole, Delhi's bowlers often erred, gifting full tosses that were treated aptly by Pollard. He had found it difficult facing the spin of Sarabjit Ladda, edging and miscuing him, but found an opening in form of McDonald which more than compensated for Mumbai's travails for much of the innings.