Struggling Kings XI Punjab showed nerves of steel in Dubai, particularly in the field during the two Super Overs, to claim the victory which moves them to a 3-6 record and into sixth spot.
Earlier Mumbai Indians won the toss and elected to bat, which has worked so well for most sides in Dubai this season, before amassing 6-176 led by Quinton de Kock’s 53 and Kieron Pollard’s blazing 34no from 12 balls which included four sixes.
But Kings XI fired in reply, with Player of the Match and captain KL Rahul scoring 77 from 51 balls while Chris Gayle impacted again with 24 and Nicholas Pooran blasted 24 from 12 balls.
Chris Jordan was run out on the final ball, forcing a Super Over where Kings XI could only initially muster five, before defending that miraculously with Mohammed Shami exceptional with his yorkers and Rahul producing a diving deflection on the final ball to run out de Kock to force another eliminator.
Mumbai batted first the second time around, with Pollard finding the middle although he was sensationally denied six runs thanks to some exceptional fielding a wide long-on by a leaping Mayank Agarwal on the rope.
And Kings XI capitalised in their pursuit of 12 for victory, with Gayle hitting a six off the first ball before Agarwal belted consecutive boundaries to win with two balls to spare.
“You can never prepare for Super Overs. No team does,” Rahul said after the thrilling win.
“So you have to trust your bowler’s gut. You trust your bowler, and let them believe their instinct and gut. He was very clear he wanted to go six yorkers. He has been phenomenal, and keeps getting better every game.”
Meanwhile, the earlier match also went to a Super Over, with Sunrisers Hyderabad going down to Kolkata Knight Riders who had Lockie Ferguson hold his nerve with the ball in the eliminator.
The result opens up a four-point buffer between fourth-placed KKR and the fifth-placed Sunrisers after nine rounds, with five to play before the play-offs.