‘One of the best knocks I’ve seen’

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Black Cap and Mumbai Indian’s allrounder Mitchell McClenaghan has described Kieron Pollard’s 70 off 46 balls as one of the best knocks he has seen on a slower surface.

Pollard played a vital knock to rescue the Mumbai franchise form 33 for 5 with a 93 run sixth wicket stand with Krunal Pandya against The Royal Challengers Bangalore.

McClenaghan, the pick of the bowlers for the Mumbai Indians with figures of 2 for 20, said after the match: “I think Kieron Pollard played one of the best knocks I’ve seen on an incredibly difficult wicket and it shouldn’t be underestimated.

“I think he showed the composure of a top-order batsman to assess the wicket, the situations. To work the ones and wait for the ball in his slot. It’s one of the smartest, most technically good chases I’ve seen on such a difficult wicket. Unbelievable!

“Look what I’ve seen over the last couple of games is that you have the experience of Pollard, the determination to prove few people wrong about some things that have been said to come out and play an exceptional knock.”

The Mumbai Indians sit atop the IPL table although it is still really early in the competition.

McClenaghan feels the franchise is loaded with talent and has every chance of being in the mix towards the back end of the competition.

He added: “I think we’ve got incredibly talented players all the way down the order.

“The Pandya brothers are exceptional, both are, world-class cricketers. They have this uncanny knack of being able to absorb pressure and put it back on the bowlers. We are pretty blessed to have guys backing up KP [Pollard] lower down the order like Krunal and Hardik.” `

The Mumbai Indians will be in action again on Sunday in a bumper easter weekend programme when they clash with the Gujarat Lions at the Wankhede stadium.

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