Failure for Pollard but Redbacks survive

ADELAIDE–West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard was perhaps due a failure and finally got one but his South Australia Redbacks survived this to score a 10-run win over Queensland in the Twenty20 Big Bash yesterday. The big-hitting all-rounder, named in the Windies 15-man World Cup squad on Wednesday, managed just six in South Australia’s 159 for six after they opted to bat first at Adelaide Oval. They then restricted Queensland to 149 for nine from their allotted overs, with Pollard snaring two for 31 with his medium pace opening the bowling.

The well-built 23-year-old, who had scored of 53, 34 not out and 55 in his previous innings, failed to get going this time after entering the fray at 94 for two in the 10th over. Uncharacteristically, he spent 10 balls over six before missing a sweep at off-spinner Chris Simpson (3-17) and being adjudged lbw. In the absence of runs from the Trinidadian, Daniel Harris (45) and Daniel Christian (41) led South Australia’s run-scoring. Opener Michael Lumb then top-scored with 24 from 13 balls but when he was dismissed the batting fell away badly as Pollard’s South Australia took control. (CMC )