Kieron Pollard Archives

Pooran-Pollard masterclass powers MI New York into MLC 2025 final

DALLAS: The West Indian duo of Nicholas Pooran and Kieron Pollard lit up the Grand Prairie Stadium on Friday night, dismantling Texas Super Kings with brutal hitting to power MI New York into the final of Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 with a commanding seven-wicket victory.

After a dismal start to their campaign, losing six of their first seven matches, MI New York have now booked a spot in their second MLC final in three years, setting up a title clash against defending champions Washington Freedom on Sunday.

Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, MI New York struck early. Smit Patel was the first to go for 9, undone by Tristan Luus in the fourth over with the score at 29.

Luus and Rushil Ugarkar then ran through the Super Kings’ top order, leaving them reeling at 43-3 by the end of the Powerplay.

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While Faf du Plessis tried to hold the innings together with a composed 59 off 42 balls, Marcus Stoinis never looked settled and was dismissed for 6 by Ugarkar.

Luus returned to remove du Plessis just as he was threatening to shift gears, leaving the scoreboard in a precarious state at 85-5.

However, the final flourish came from Akeal Hosein and Donovan Ferreira, who stitched together an unbeaten 81-run stand off just 46 deliveries.

Hosein smashed a blistering 55* off 32 balls, peppered with four fours and four sixes, while Ferreira supported well with 32* off 20 as Texas Super Kings ended at a competitive 166-5.

Luus finished with impressive figures of 3-35, while Ugarkar picked up 2-31. No other MI bowler managed a breakthrough.

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In response, MI New York’s chase began on shaky ground. Quinton de Kock fell cheaply for 9, miscuing a pull shot off Zia-ul-Haq, and Michael Bracewell (8) didn’t last long either, departing soon after the powerplay to Akeal Hosein.

Monank Patel anchored the innings with a solid 49 off 39, hitting five boundaries and two sixes, but his dismissal by Noor Ahmed in the 13th over with the score at 83-3 left the game in a tense balance.

What followed was a ruthless counterattack as Nicholas Pooran and Kieron Pollard tore into the Super Kings’ bowling. The pair added 89 unbeaten runs off just 40 deliveries to seal the match in the penultimate over.

Pooran remained unbeaten on 52 off 36 balls, striking four boundaries and three sixes, while Pollard rolled back the years with a vintage 47* off just 22, smashing seven boundaries, including three massive sixes.

READ: PCB announces Pakistan Shaheens squad for Top End T20 Series

WATCH: Kieron Pollard hits Rashid Khan for five consecutive sixes in The Hundred

SOUTHAMPTON: Veteran West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard decimated Afghanistan’s star spinner Rashid Khan in The Hundred 2024.

Pollard, representing Southern Braves in The Hundred, launched a brutal attack on Rashid as he smashed the Afghan spinner for five consecutive sixes towards the back end of the run chase against Trent Rockets.

Prior to his surreal thrashing of Rashid, Pollard was taking his time to get settled as he was on six off 14 balls.

He, however, made an astounding recovery and went on to score a 23-ball 45, paving the way for the Braves to chase down the 127-run target with a ball to spare.

For his quickfire knock, Kieron Pollard was adjudged the Player of the Match.

The Braves had slipped to 78/6 after 80 balls when Sam Cook dismissed Akeal Hosein.

Rashid Khan came to bowl the next over with Kieron Pollard on strike. The leg-spinner bowled a shorter delivery on the middle stump which Pollard comfortably launched it for a six by backing away.

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He struck a mightier hit on the next ball over the long-off boundary. Rashid bowled another straighter delivery and suffered the same consequence.

The leg-spinner then looked to change his line and bowled fractionally wide outside off but Pollard, fuelled with momentum, backed away again to make some room and pumped one over deep mid-wicket for his fourth six.

Kieron Pollard was then delivered a slower and fuller ball outside off by Rashid Khan and he effortlessly dispatched it for a mighty six over long-off.

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Pollard’s onslaught turned the game on its head as the Braves were then required 19 off 15 deliveries with four wickets in hand.

His brilliant knock lasted on the 91st delivery of the innings when he was run out by substitute fielder Calvin Harrison.

Coming out to bat at No.9, Chris Jordan then sealed the deal for Southern Braves by hitting a four on the penultimate delivery.

READ: Breakdancer disqualified for displaying “Free Afghan Women” slogan

Kieron Pollard named in England’s coaching setup for T20 World Cup 2024

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has included former West Indies captain Kieron Pollard in their coaching staff for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20I World Cup 2024, which is scheduled to be played in West Indies and United States of America (USA).

England roped in Pollard to help them with local knowledge of the conditions in the Caribbean during their defence of the T20 World Cup title which they won in 2022 under Jos Buttler.

“Pollard will join the England Men’s team specifically for the T20 World Cup as an assistant coach and to provide expertise of local conditions,” said ECB in a press release.

Notably, England won their first ICC trophy in the West Indies by defeating arch-rivals Australia in the final of the ICC T20 World Cup in 2010 under Paul Collingwood.

Meanwhile, West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard is a veteran in T20 cricket, having played 637 matches and amassing over 12000 runs at an impressive strike rate of 150.58.

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Pollard has also picked over 300 wickets in T20 cricket at an average of 25.19.

He is the only player to play more than 600 T20 games and the third-highest run-scorer in T20 cricket.

Pollard was also part of the West Indies squad during their victorious ICC T20 World Cup 2012 campaign in Sri Lanka.

He has also served as the batting coach of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Mumbai Indians since 2022, after winning five IPL titles with them as a player.

Meanwhile, England have recently concluded their tour of the Caribbean, where they lost the ODI series 2-1 and the T20I series 3-2 against the West Indies.

READ: Mitchell Starc surprised over the lack of pace by Pakistan bowlers

Pollard reprimanded for breaching PSL code of conduct

LAHORE: Multan Sultans all-rounder Kieron Pollard has been reprimanded for a level 1 breach of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel during his side’s match against Lahore Qalandars at the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.

Pollard violated Article 2.5, which reads as: “Using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon his/her dismissal during a match”.

The incident occurred in the 13^th over of the first innings when Pollard after taking Abdullah Shafique’s catch off his own bowling signalled towards the pavilion in a clear gesture of send-off.

“Pollard pleaded guilty to the charge and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Muhammad Javed Malik. The charge was levelled by on-field umpires Martin Saggers and Faisal Afridi, third umpire Ahsan Raza and fourth umpire Shozab Raza,” said PCB in a statement on Sunday.

It may be noted here that Lahore Qalandars beat Multan Sultans in the game and became the first to qualify for the playoffs of the tournament.

Set to chase 181, the Sultans fell 21 runs short of glory as the visitors could accumulate 159/7 in 20 overs.

READ: All-round Qalandars thrash Sultans to secure PSL 8 playoff berth

Kieron Pollard announces retirement from International cricket

ST LUCIA: Star West Indian all-rounder Kieron Pollard has announced his retirement from International Cricket, here on Wednesday.

Pollard, who represented West Indies in 123 ODIs and 101 T20Is, has decided to bid farewell to his 15 years long career.

Taking to Instagram, Pollard announces his retirement from international cricket by sharing a video message.

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“After careful deliberation I’ve today decided to retire from international cricket. As is the case of many young persons it was a dream of mine to represent the West Indies team from the time I was a boy of 10 years and I’m proud to have represented West Indies cricket for over 15 years in both the T20 and ODI forms of the game,” Pollard said.

“I can still vividly remember making my international debut in 2007 under the leadership of my childhood hero, Brian Lara. Wearing those maroon colours and playing alongside such greats has been a privilege that I never took lightly, soul in every facet of the game – whether bowling, batting or fielding,” he concluded.

It is pertinent to mention here that Pollard, who made his debut against South Africa in 2007, scored 4275 and took 97 wickets.

READ: Pakistan to tour Netherlands to play ODI series in August

Kieron Pollard to miss Pakistan tour following an injury

BARBADOS: Kieron Pollard, the West Indies’ white ball captain, has been ruled out of the Pakistan tour due to a hamstring injury.

Following Pollard’s withdrawal from the tour, Nicholas Pooran will lead the side in T20Is, while Shai Hope will captain the team in ODIs.

The replacements have been announced by the West Indies Cricket Board. Pollard will be replaced in the ODI and T20I squads by Devon Thomas, a right-handed batter, and Rovman Powell, an all-rounder.

The all-rounder sustained the injury during the recent ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and was unable to recover in time for the tour.

The T20I and ODI series between Pakistan and West Indies will take place from December 13 to December 22. Both series matches will be held at Karachi’s National Stadium.

READ: African crew for PakvsWI will reach Karachi between 9-10 Dec: Sources