Marsh, Pomersbach power King's XI to 189 for four

Mumbai, May 21 (UNI) Shaun Marsh rode his luck continuing in the rich vein of form he has been in cracking a 56-ball 81 to take King's XI Punjab to an imposing total of 189 for four in the DLF Indian Premier League Twenty20 match against Mumbai Indians played at the Wankhede stadium here today.

Put into bat by Sachin Tendulkar, King's XI Punjab had a horrendous start when they lost James Hopes in the first over itself with Shaun Pollock producing the perfect outswinger.

The edge was gobbled up by wicket keeper Pinal Shah to leave the visitors on one for one.

Marsh then got the innings started flicking Ashish Nehra for a boundary of the left arm seamer's first delivery.

However, at the other end Shaun Pollock was spot on and he should have had Marsh in his second over when the opener gave an easy catch to Robin Uthappa at point, but the fielder spilled the easiest of catches to give him a big let off.

Marsh was on six and the team score was eight for one.

Luke Pomersbach then went into the attack mode clobbing the left arm seamer Nehra for a boundary and a six in one over as the innings started to come into life.

Taking cue from Pomersbach, Marsh also switched into fourth gear as he greeted the off-spinner Vikrant Yelligati's arrival with a boundary and a six in his first over and then swept the other off-spinner Siddharth Chitnis for a boundary to bring up the team 50 in the seventh over.

With both Marsh and Pomersbach getting set, Mumbai Indians captain Sachin Tendulkar tried rotating his bowlers bringing in Dwayne Smith and Dilhara Fernando but nothing could stop these two as Marsh brough up his 50 in only 35 balls with five fours and one six.

Marsh then feasted on a below par performance by the Mumbai Indians' bowlers taking full advantage of full tosses, long hops and the hosts were made to chase leather on a hot and humid afternoon.

The Australian, son of former Test captain Geoff Marsh, however, fell going for a huge six of Siddharth Chitnis, but could only find Shaun Pollock at the long off fence who made no mistake to take a well judged catch of off-spinner Siddharth Chitnis.

He made 81 in just 56 balls with seven fours and four sixes.

He along with Luke Pomersbach put on 133 runs in 86 balls to give their team a very good foundation.

Luke Pomersbach, who had played second fiddle to Marsh, also completed his 50 soon in 38 balls with five boundaries and two sixes.

Yuvraj Singh's wretched form continued when he was caught at long-on by Dwayne Smith of Siddharth Tipnis for just seven with the team score on 148 for three.

Though Mahela Jayawardene fell cheaply to his Sri Lankan teammate being caught and bowled by Dilhara Fernando for one, Pomersbach continued to flay to Mumbai attack as he remained unbeaten on a 50-ball 79 with 10 fours and three sixes to take his side to a score of 189 for four.

UNI GS RAR ND1825