Chapter 106

The clash between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 2015 turned out to be a thrilling encounter, keeping the fans on the edge of their seats till the last ball. KKR had posted a competitive total of 178/5 on the board, thanks to some brilliant performances from Andre Russell, Gautam Gambhir, and Manish Pandey. In response, MI fought valiantly, with Kieron Pollard nearly pulling off a spectacular victory with his breathtaking innings of 78 runs.

KKR's innings began on a positive note, with Robin Uthappa and Gautam Gambhir providing a solid start. Both batsmen were watchful in the powerplay, picking the gaps and running hard between the wickets. Uthappa looked in good touch, finding the boundary at regular intervals, while Gambhir played the anchor's role.

After a steady partnership, Uthappa was dismissed by a well-directed bouncer from Mitchell McClenaghan, caught at fine leg. This brought Andre Russell to the crease, and he wasted no time in stamping his authority. Russell unleashed his power-hitting skills, taking on the MI bowlers with ferocity. His innings was an exhibition of clean striking and brute force, sending the ball to all parts of the ground.

Gambhir, on the other hand, continued to accumulate runs steadily. He mixed caution with aggression and scored his half-century, providing a strong platform for KKR to accelerate in the latter part of the innings. The duo of Russell and Gambhir stitched together a vital partnership, taking the score beyond 150.

Manish Pandey joined the party with some lusty blows, adding crucial runs in the final overs. His cameo helped KKR finish with a challenging total of 178/5. The MI bowlers struggled to contain the onslaught from Russell and Pandey, and their death bowling was put under immense pressure.

In response, MI started the chase with intent, with Lendl Simmons and Parthiv Patel looking to get off to a flying start. However, KKR bowlers struck early, dismissing both openers within the powerplay. Rohit Sharma, MI's captain, walked in at number three and started the repair work alongside Ambati Rayudu.

Rohit, known for his elegant stroke-play, looked in sublime touch, and he found an able partner in Rayudu. The duo kept the scoreboard ticking, rotating the strike and finding the occasional boundary. Just when it seemed like they were taking the game away from KKR, Rayudu was dismissed by Sunil Narine, bowled through the gate.

Kieron Pollard, MI's explosive all-rounder, walked in next, and he immediately took the attack to the KKR bowlers. With Rohit providing steady support at the other end, Pollard unleashed his power, sending the ball soaring into the stands. His onslaught put KKR on the back foot, and the required run-rate started to come down.

Rohit brought up his half-century and continued to anchor the innings, while Pollard played his natural aggressive game. The duo took the game deep into the final overs, and with 24 runs needed off the last two overs, MI were in the driver's seat.

The penultimate over bowled by Andre Russell proved to be a game-changer. With the pressure mounting, Rohit was caught at long-off while trying to clear the boundary. The wicket of Rohit was a significant breakthrough for KKR, and the match hung in the balance going into the final over.

With 11 runs needed off the last over, MI's hopes rested on Pollard's broad shoulders. The first three balls of the over produced just five runs, and the pressure intensified. Pollard needed a boundary off the last ball to take MI over the line.

As the final ball was delivered, Pollard swung hard, but the ball fell agonizingly short of the boundary, and MI fell short by four runs. The Eden Gardens erupted in joy as KKR players celebrated a hard-fought victory.

Pollard's valiant innings of 78 off 48 balls won him the admiration of fans and players alike, but it was not enough to secure a win for MI. Andre Russell's all-round performance earned him the man of the match award for his blistering innings with the bat and crucial wickets with the ball.

Although MI lost the match, Pollard's heroics showcased his ability to turn games on their head. The match proved to be a fitting start to IPL 2015, setting the tone for an action-packed season ahead.