After the veteran scratched around, his mind seemingly clouded, Mumbai Indians’ new recruit was all poise and confidence as he fashioned a late flourish
Tim David, among their costliest signings at the mega auction, meanwhile stepped up to play the kind of role Pollard has for more than a decade. It made you wonder why he’s played just four games this season when he could’ve easily played more. Remember, Mumbai fielded just three overseas players in one match, and two in another.
Where Pollard stuttered to 4 off 14, David blasted 44 not out from 21 balls. Where Pollard was diffident against spin – it seemed inevitable that Hardik Pandya would bring on Rashid Khan almost immediately as he came out to bat – David muscled the ball fearlessly despite the knowledge that it was on him to revive a stuttering innings, albeit on a belter of a surface.
Pollard vs spin has been a no-contest this season. His overall strike rate of 109.32 this year is his worst since his maiden IPL season in 2010. Against spin, it gets worse: five times, he has been out to the slow stuff, while striking at a touch over 70. When you’re in such a downward spiral, even a half-decent spinner stands a chance of tying you down. Rashid Khan would have been licking his lips.
Walking in with Mumbai 111 for 3 in 12 overs, Pollard did have a minute to steady himself – an over each of Pradeep Sangwan and Lockie Ferguson – before Rashid came on. By that point Pollard was on 4 off 9, with Ferguson having mixed up his pace to tie him down. He then tried to see Rashid off. For his part, Rashid stuck to his tried-and-tested mantra of bowling ripping legbreaks from a length. Pollard wasn’t taking any chances.
In his pomp, Pollard picked lengths in a jiffy. Here, he didn’t seem sure whether to go forward or to play from the crease. If it was spinning away or sliding in. He also seemed to be playing for the wrong ‘un. When your mind is clouded to this extent, it’s already half the battle lost.
Pollard duly got a legbreak that beat the edge. He played down the wrong line and the ball took the top of off. He was gone for 4 off 14. In the 2.5 overs he had been around at the crease, Mumbai managed just eight runs. A projected score that had touched 200 was suddenly toned down to 169.