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The MI Emirates and The Desert Vipers clashed against each other at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Desert Vipers won the toss and chose to bat. The Emirates made 169-5 in their 20 overs as Nicholas Pooran made 57 off 49 balls, with four fours and two sixes. Kieron Pollard smashed 67 off 39 balls, with one four and six sixes.
In reply, the Desert Vipers had an easy chase on the back of Alex Hales’ unbeaten 62 off 44 balls, with six fours and two sixes. Colin Munro, the team skipper, made a quickfire 41 off 22 balls, with four fours and three sixes. Sherfane Rutherford made 56 off 29 balls, with four fours and three sixes.
The Desert Vipers chased down the target in 16.3 overs. Pollard showed what he was capable of with the bat, with his towering sixes and he also picked up a one-handed screamer to lift the spirits of his side. He took a one-handed flying catch near the boundary to get rid of the dangerous Munro, who looked in wonderful touch.
The incident took place on the second ball of the eighth over of the Desert Vipers’ innings. Samit Patel bowled a full toss and Munro hit the ball towards long-on where Pollard was stationed at the boundary. He was standing a few yards inside the ropes and had to get back as the ball was going above him and then he had to jump with an outstretched hand to grab the ball. He made a tough catch look very easy.
What a catch by Pollard!!!!pic.twitter.com/AE2SSIeP9g
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 24, 2023
Pollard was an integral part of the West Indies side and also was a big lynchpin of the Mumbai side in the Indian T20 League. The former West Indies skipper with a heavy heart announced his retirement from the Indian T20 League and ended his association as a player with Mumbai, but he was retained as batting coach of the five-time Indian T20 League winning side.
