Kieron Pollard hit an unbeaten 87 off 34 balls to power Mumbai Indians to a thrilling four-wicket Indian Premier League win over old rivals Chennai Super Kings on Saturday.
Chennai seemed to be coasting to victory when the West Indies star came in, with Mumbai needing 138 from 10 overs to beat their opponents' 218 for four.
Pollard smashed eight sixes and six fours to lead the unlikely charge against one of the title favourites.
After Faf du Plessis dropped one Pollard hit, Mumbai needed 16 off the last over.
Pollard hit two fours, then a six off the penultimate ball and ran two off the last delivery to complete one of the closest wins in IPL history.
"It was one of the best T20 wins I have ever been a part of. I have never seen a chase like that before," said Mumbai captain Rohit Sharma.
Chennai missed a chance to pull away from their rivals at the top of the IPL standings. They still lead Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore on net run rate, with all three teams on five wins from seven matches.
Reigning champions Mumbai now have the fourth playoff spot with four wins.
The game is always one of the most tense as Mumbai have won five IPL titles and Chennai are their closest rivals with three.
Sharma won the toss and put Chennai in to bat.
Du Plessis hit 50 off 28 balls, England all-rounder Moeen Ali 58 off 36 balls and then Ambati Rayudu smashed the Mumbai bowlers for 72 off just 27 deliveries to put their side in control of the game.
Pollard played a key role in restricting the runs, ending Du Plessis's dangerous innings and dismissing Suresh Raina with successive balls.
In reply, Quinton de Kock (38) and Sharma (35) put on 71 for the first wicket but the required run rate kept mounting.
Mumbai were struggling when Pollard came in.
Pollard and Krunal Pandya (32) put on 89 for the fourth wicket and he was then helped by Hardik Pandya who made 16 from seven balls as Mumbai fought their way back.
The Windies' limited-overs captain said he knew he would be facing some spin on the small Delhi ground when he first arrived at the crease and "looked to hit some sixes".
Three balls from one Ravindra Jadeja over went into the empty stands.
Du Plessis, a respected fielder, dropped Pollard on the boundary and the reprieved batsman admitted that the South African had done him "a favour" as Mumbai pulled off the second highest run chase in the IPL.
Bottom-of-the-table Sunrisers Hyderabad have meanwhile made New Zealander Kane Williamson captain in place of Australian David Warner.
Hyderabad have won just one game from six going into Sunday's clash against fellow strugglers Rajasthan Royals.
"The decision has not come lightly as the management respects the enormous impact David Warner has had for the franchise over a number of years," the team said in a statement.
Warner led Hyderabad to their only title in 2016. But Williamson also replaced him when Warner was serving a one-year ban in 2018 for his part in the infamous Australian ball-tampering scandal.
UK life sciences sector contributed £17.6bn GVA in 2021 and supports 126,000 high-skilled jobs.
Inward life sciences FDI fell by 58 per cent from £1,897m in 2021 to £795m in 2023.
Experts warn NHS underinvestment and NICE pricing rules are deterring innovation and patient access.
Investment gap
Britain is seeking to attract new pharmaceutical investment as part of its plan to strengthen the life sciences sector, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said during meetings in Washington this week. “We do need to make sure that we are an attractive place for pharmaceuticals, and that includes on pricing, but in return for that, we want to see more investment flow to Britain,” Reeves told reporters.
Recent ABPI report, ‘Creating the conditions for investment and growth’, The UK’s pharmaceutical industry is integral to both the country’s health and growth missions, contributing £17.6 billion in direct gross value added (GVA) annually and supporting 126,000 high-skilled jobs across the nation. It also invests more in research and development (R&D) than any other sector. Yet inward life sciences foreign direct investment (FDI) fell by 58per cent, from £1,897 million in 2021 to £795 million in 2023, while pharmaceutical R&D investment in the UK lagged behind global growth trends, costing an estimated £1.3 billion in lost investment in 2023 alone.
Richard Torbett, ABPI Chief Executive, noted “The UK can lead globally in medicines and vaccines, unlocking billions in R&D investment and improving patient access but only if barriers are removed and innovation rewarded.”
The UK invests just 9% of healthcare spending in medicines, compared with 17% in Spain, and only 37% of new medicines are made fully available for their licensed indications, compared to 90% in Germany.
Expert reviews
Shailesh Solanki, executive editor of Pharmacy Business, pointed that “The government’s own review shows the sector is underfunded by about £2 billion per year. To make transformation a reality, this gap must be closed with clear plans for investment in people, premises and technology.”
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) cost-effectiveness threshold £20,000 to £30,000 per Quality-Adjusted Life Year (QALY) — has remained unchanged for over two decades, delaying or deterring new medicine launches. Raising it is viewed as vital to attracting foreign investment, expanding patient access, and maintaining the UK’s global standing in life sciences.
Guy Oliver, General Manager for Bristol Myers Squibb UK and Ireland, noted that " the current VPAG rate is leaving UK patients behind other countries, forcing cuts to NHS partnerships, clinical trials, and workforce despite government growth ambitions".
Reeves’ push for reform, supported by the ABPI’s Competitiveness Framework, underlines Britain’s intent to stay a leading hub for pharmaceutical innovation while ensuring NHS patients will gain faster access to new treatments.
By clicking the 'Subscribe’, you agree to receive our newsletter, marketing communications and industry
partners/sponsors sharing promotional product information via email and print communication from Garavi Gujarat
Publications Ltd and subsidiaries. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the
unsubscribe link in our emails. We will use your email address to personalize our communications and send you
relevant offers. Your data will be stored up to 30 days after unsubscribing.
Contact us at data@amg.biz to see how we manage and store your data.