Mumbai Indians lost to Rajasthan Royals despite posting 195/5 batting first in Abu Dhabi.
Pollard & co made a huge total of 195/5 in their allotted 20 overs, with all-rounder Hardik Pandya (60*) playing the stand-out knock and Suryakumar Yadav (40), Ishan Kishan (37) and Saurabh Tiwary (34) making healthy contributions.
Given MI's much-vaunted bowling attack and the form that RR's batting unit had shown in the lead up to the game, the defending champions were considered firm favourites at the halfway mark.
But what followed was an astonishing display of batsmanship from Ben Stokes (107*) and Sanju Samson (54*). While Stokes' outstanding hundred was just the sort of impactful knock that RR had been hoping from him, Samson reminded everyone why he is rated so highly among prominent voices within Indian cricket.
Their memorable 152-run third-wicket stand took RR home with more than an over to spare. None of MI's bowlers were able to restrict Stokes and Samson on the night, reflective of the quality of duo's performance.
"I thought they batted well," said Pollard at the post-match presentation, as quoted by ANI. "Hardik brought us straight back in the game with that knock at the halfway stage. We could have got a couple of wickets more, but the wicket ended up becoming a little better. Their spinners got some help from the pitch, but our spinners couldn't do that."
"At the end of the day, someone wins, someone loses. We just have to come out and play good cricket. Our bowlers tried, but well played to the opposition. He (Hardik) went out and scored 60* off 21, an innings like that and we end up on the losing side, that's just tough luck," he added.
The defeat, though, was only MI's fourth in eleven outings. The team still remain at the top of the eight-team points table. They next face Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on Wednesday (October 28).