Home
Former West Indies captain Kieron Pollard may have retired from T20Is and the Indian Premier League (IPL) but he is still capable of clearing any ground against the best of bowlers in world cricket. On September 1, Trinbago Knight Riders’ Pollard showed that the 38-year-old can turn the game on his head as he smashed eight sixes in seven balls against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots at Brian Lara Stadium, Trinidad.
Pollard walked out to bat when Knight Riders were 78/3 in the 11th over. He got off the mark with a six off the second ball he faced from Navian Bidaisee. He stayed quiet for three more overs before going berserk. Before the 15th over, Knight Riders were 99/3 and needed a big over. Pollard hit Bidaisee for three massive sixes on the last four balls of the over.
In the next over bowled by Afghanistan's Waqar Salamkheil, he got the strike on the third ball. He made Patriots' fielders mere spectators as they watched the ball sailing over the roles. The 38-year-old hit four consecutive sixes to reach his fifty from 21 balls.
5th consecutive win for Knight Riders
On the other hand, Pooran played the anchor role. The wicketkeeper-batter reached his fifty from 33 balls. In the penultimate over, Pollard departed for a 29-ball 65, laced with two fours and eight sixes. He was dismissed by Kyle Mayers. In the last over, Jason Holder struck twice to dismiss Pooran for a 38-ball 52 and Andre Russell. Trinbago Knight Riders posted 179/6 on the board.
ALSO READ: Mitchell Starc announces shock retirement from T20Is to ‘remain fresh, fit’ for Test and ODI cricket
In reply, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots managed to post 167/6, despite a 96-run opening partnership. Evin Lewis' 25-ball 42 and Andre Fletcher's 54-ball 67 went in vain as they lost by 12 runs. This was Knight Riders’ fifth win on the trot. They remain at the top of the points table.
Pollard chasing 1,000 sixes
Meanwhile, Pollard completed 950 sixes in his T20 career. He is only behind Chris Gayle who has 1,056 sixes in the format. Also, he is the leading six-hitter in Caribbean Premier League (CPL) history with 212 sixes. He is closely followed by Lewis (207 sixes) and Pooran (190 sixes).
“I have been here 20 years or more, so won’t call this the form of my life. Wanted to give the fans and my family something to celebrate. I play each ball on its merit, cricket is often a game of chess. You don’t get these games overnight, I have messed up many such games in the past but you learn from experience. For me, preparation is more mental in terms of the processes to be followed,” ‘Player of the match’ Pollard said in the post-match presentation.
ADVERTISEMENT
