Pollard powers Mumbai to 3ird victory

West Indies allrounder Kieron Pollard hammered a 33-ball 64 and then bagged 4-44 as Mumbai Indians scored a 27-run victory over Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League on Wednesday. Pollard came to the crease after IPL debutant Australian Brad Hogg dismissed Rohit Sharma and Richard Levi in four balls, with Ambati Rayudu (47 not out) ensuring a solid total for the hosts. Pollard's mid-innings blitz, during which he smashed four sixes and six fours, helped Mumbai pile up a huge total of 197-6 after being put in to bat at the Wankhede Stadium. But the home team got a scare as Owais Shah smashed a 42-ball 76 with five sixes and five fours, before a two-wicket burst by Sri Lanka paceman Lasith Malinga wrested the initiative back and Rajasthan was bowled out for 170 in 19.4 overs. Mumbai's Munaf Patel claimed the best bowling figures of four for 28 from 3.4 overs. Harbhajan Singh-led Mumbai now has three wins and a loss from four games while Rahul Dravid's Rajasthan Royals has two wins from three outings. The result sees Mumbai move top of the table with six points while the Royals are in fourth.