Chris Gayle and Mayank Agarwal brought Kings XI Punjab across the finish line against defending champions the Mumbai Indians in a historic 2020 IPL match that was decided in the second Super Over at Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. For the first time in the game’s history, the scores were tied at the end of the 20 regulation overs and then the first Super Over. But Mayank Agarwal and Chris Gayle scored 15 runs without a loss in the second Super Over to add two crucial points to their tally and keep their play-off hopes alive. With this victory, KXIP has six points from nine games and is tied on points with three other teams, battling for fourth place in the play-off in the eight-team table.
Chris Gayle, who did not hit the first Super Over, hit a six on the first ball to pressure Trent Boult. He took a single on the next ball to put Mayank on strike, who broke consecutive limits to seal the win, bringing them to sixth place on the points table.
Aside from his batting heroics, Mayank’s sensational fielding effort at the fence saved four runs and restricted IM to just 11 runs. Kieron Pollard had hit the ball well and looked like he was going to go all the way, but Mayank dove into the air and threw the ball, saving crucial runs for his team.
In the first Super Over, KXIP could only handle five batting runs. Jasprit Bumrah got rid of Nicholas Pooran on the second ball and then sent Rahul off with a smashing yorker.
Mohammed Shami, who leaked many runs towards the end of the regulation, made amends and threw six big balls to tie the game and take the second Super Over.
Previously, KL Rahul played a captain’s stroke scoring 77 of 51 balls, but couldn’t finish the job on his side. The game seemed to be moving away from Mumbai and Rohit handed the ball to Bumrah, who threw a perfect yorker at the base of the stump to provide the most important wicket.
Deepak Hooda (23 without 16 balls) and Chris Jordan (13 with 8) collected 13 runs in the penultimate to once again turn the tide in their team’s favor. With only nine required six-balls, the duo managed five runs from the first two deliveries, reducing the equation to four of four balls. However, Trent Boult threw brilliant last four balls and restricted them to 176/6 after 20 overs.
For Mumbai, Quinton de Kock continued his fine form and broke another half century, scoring 53 of 43 balls to set the stage for a grand finale. The Mumbai Indians got off to a terrible start losing three wickets within the Powerplay, with skipper Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan all back in the pavilion.
de Kock and Krunal Pandya chained a crucial 58-run support for the fourth wicket to stabilize their innings. Young running back Ravi Bishnoi fired Krunal to break through the dangerous stands in 14th.
Hardik Pandya broke a six during his short tenure in the fold and started cheaply for eight runs against Mohammed Shami. de Kock also came out trying to speed up innings, leaving Mumbai in a deep state of annoyance, with two new batters in the crease and three overs to play.
However, what happened after that was a feast for the eyes as Kieron Pollard (undefeated 34 of 12) and Coulter-Nile (24 not out of 12) collected 54 runs in the final three overs to bring their side to a Awe-inspiring total on a difficult double paced track
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Pollard broke the fence twice, while Coulter-Nile broke two limits at 18 on Arshdeep Singh’s ball.
The Australian off-roader then picked up two limits as the Mumbai Indians racked up 12 runs in the penultimate change. The West Indies big man then hit two sixes and one four in the final to cap off a 20-run career and finish the innings high.
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