Simmons, Pollard power Mumbai to 212/3 against Delhi

New Delhi, May 6 (IANS) Lendl Simmons and Kieran Pollard hit blistering half-centuries to power Mumbai Indians to a huge total of 212/3 in 20 overs against Delhi Daredevils in an Indian Premier League (IPL) game at the Ferozeshah Kotla stadium here on Saturday.

Simmons, playing his first match of the campaign, starred from the start with a knock of 66 off 43 deliveries, featuring five fours and four sixes, while Pollard scored a belligerent 63 not out off 35 balls, milking four sixes.

Asked to bat, Simmons and Parthiv Patel (25) gave the visitors a flying start, putting up 79 runs for the first wicket in 8.4 overs. At the end of the Powerplay overs (6), Mumbai were handsomely placed at 60/1.

West Indian Simmons, who replaced Jos Buttler in the team, was particularly impressive, using the long handle to good effect. He wasn't afraid of going on the backfoot to hit towards the cover and was equally at ease against the short deliveries aimed at him by Delhi pacers Zaheer Khan, Kagiso Rabada and Pat Cummins.

Parthiv (25 off 22) played a perfect foil to Simmons till leg-spinner Amit Mishra ended his innings when the left-hander stepped out and missed a googly, only to be stumped by wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant.

Simmons then completed his fifty off 38 deliveries, as he and Pollard took Mumbai innings forward. Pollard made his intention clear from the outset, hitting Mishra for two sixes in the 11th over.

Simmons gave further proof of his power-hitting by hitting Cummins and Corey Anderson for two sixes, before being caught by Marlon Samuels off, with Mumbai at 116/2 in 12.3 overs.

Pollard, however, continued to assault the bowlers, despatching two more deliveries from Mishra over long on in the next over.

Mumbai captain Rohit Sharma (10)'s wicket, however, gave some relief to the hosts. The right-hander unsuccessfully pulled Rabada and the ball landed in the hands of Mishra at short fine-leg, as Mumbai lost their third wicket for 153 runs in 15.3 overs.

Meanwhile Pollard completed his fifty in 29 balls with a powerful straight drive off Cummins. He later got good support from Hardik Pandya (29 not out off 14) as they helped Mumbai post a mighty total.

Brief scores: Mumbai Indians: 212/3 (Lendl Simmons 66; Kieran Pollard 63 not out; Kagiso Rabada 1/33 ) vs Delhi Daredevils.