Mumbai, Apr 10 (UNI) Stand-in captain Kieron Pollard's sensational 83-run knock put KL Rahul's maiden IPL hundred in the shade as Mumbai Indian defeated Kings XI Punjab by three wickets in an IPL match here at Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday.
Chasing a target of 197 runs, Mumbai openers didn't impress with their performance and both Quinton de Kock and Siddhesh Lad were sent to pavilion one after another. De Kock scored 24 runs off 23 balls, while Siddhesh scored 15 runs off 13 balls.
Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya too failed to contribute much in the game. Yadav scored 15 runs, Kishan scored Seven runs while Pandya scored 19 runs.
Though the wickets were falling on the other end but Pollard single handedly brought his side back in the game with his 31-ball knock punishing the Punjab bowlers with 10 sixes and three fours. Later, he was dismissed by A Rajpoot. Pollard in an attempt to pull it over mid-wicket, he failed to gather enough power behind it and Miller in the deep took his fourth catch of the evening.
After pollard dismissal match became more interesting as four runs were needed off four balls. Alzarri Joseph (15 not out), who added a crucial 54 runs in 23 balls with Pollard for the seventh wicket, and Rahul Chahar (1) managed to hold their nerves to take side past the finish line.
For Punjab Mohammed Shami was the most successful bowler as he claimed three wickets, while Sam Curran,Ankit Rajpoot and Ravichandran Ashwin took one wicket each.
Earlier, KL Rahul's sensational knock of 100* runs off 64 balls (6 fours and 6 sixes ), KXIP posted a total of 197 runs in 20 overs.
After put in to bat first, openers gave KXIP a blazing start. Chris Gayle and KL Rahul put on 116-run partnership for the opening wicket.

Chris Gayle got out after scoring 63 quick runs in 36 balls with 3 fours and 7 sixes in the bowling of Behrendorff.
For MI, Hardik Pandya took 2 wickets, while Bumrah and Behrendorff took 1 wicket each.
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