Explosive Pollard sets up Mumbai's first win

MUMBAI, India (CMC):

West Indies batsman Kieron Pollard provided an explosive finish to Mumbai Indians' run chase, as the reigning champions finally broke their five-game losing slide with a five-wicket victory over Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League yesterday.

In pursuit of a tricky 169 at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai lost Rohit Sharma for 39 and Corey Anderson for 35 in successive overs, to find themselves in a spot of bother at 128 for five at the end of the 17th over.

Sharma and Anderson had put on 53 for the fourth wicket.

With the hosts requiring to score at 13 an over to win the contest, Pollard smashed an unbeaten 28 from just 12 deliveries, to see his side home with five balls to spare.

He crunched two fours and two sixes and led a ferocious assault on Australia left-arm seamer Mitchell Johnson in the penultimate over of the game which went for 20 runs.

Pollard then ended the game in style, clearing long off with the first ball of the final over from seamer Sandeep Sharma (2-29).

Earlier, Wriddhiman Saha had top scored with 59 from 47 balls as Kings XI, opting to bat first, posted 168 for five off their 20 overs.

They languished at 24 for two before Saha and Australia's Glenn Maxwell, who hit 45 from 27 balls, staged a recovery in a 69-run, third wicket partnership.

The loss was Kings XI Punjab's first of the tournament.