<p><strong>Pollard-Rayudu partnership changed the match for us: Kohli – Cricket News Update</strong></p>
<p>Virat Kohli, Royal Challengers Bangalore stand-in skipper, admitted that the devastating 122-run partnership between Ambati Rayudu and Kieron Pollard during the second innings of his team’s encounter with the Mumbai Indians cost them the match as they conceded
a narrow 4-wicket defeat at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on May 14.</p>
<p> “One good partnership can change the face of a match and that's what happened today [on Monday],” observed Kohli. “Credit should go to them [Pollard and Rayudu] for seeing their team goes past our target in spite of losing five early wickets.”</p>
<p>“Our bowlers too found it hard to grip the ball in the second innings,” he added, referring to the inability of his team’s bowlers to defend the total put up by their batsmen.</p>
<p>Chasing 172, the Mumbai Indians’ chances had appeared slim after they lost their top order in the space of the first 4 overs – Sachin Tendulkar (0), Herschelle Gibbs (2), and Rohit Sharma (5) all gave their wickets away easily, and by the 9<sup>th</sup>
over, the visitors were at 51 for 5.</p>
<p>However, Rayudu proved to be the game-changer for his side, and went on to score an unbeaten 81 off 54, which won him the Player of the Match award. His 122-run partnership with Pollard (52) got his side up to 173 with 2 balls remaining - a close victory
which moved the Mumbai Indians up to the second spot on the tournament points table.</p>
<p>Earlier, the hosts had started off on a shaky note, losing their star opener Chris Gayle in the 3<sup>rd</sup> over, after a contribution of just 6 runs, and with the exception of Tillakaratne Dilshan (47), the remainder of the top six had failed to fire
– Kohli (3), Saurabh Tiwary (21), and AB de Villiers (14) had not managed to contribute much.</p>
<p>Youngster Mayank Agarwal had stepped up for his side in a big way, and his 64 off 30 had served to ensure that the Challengers post a challenging total of 171. However, the 21-year-old’s efforts went in vain, with the bowlers unable to defend the total he
had painstakingly put up. The Challengers’ loss ensured that they remained at number 5 on the points table – an undesirable position, seeing as the tournament playoffs are only a few matches away, and due to begin on May 22.</p>
Tags: