KXIP trump MI in second Super Over in dramatic IPL game
Dubai: Kings XI Punjab showed nerves of steel as they defeated defending champions Mumbai Indians in an edge-of-the-seat IPL game that was decided via a second Super Over for the first time in the history of the tournament here on Sunday.
Kieron Pollard helped MI score 11 for one in the second Super Over bowled by Chris Jordan after both the teams ended at the same score in the regulation 20 overs as well as in the first Super Over.
Chris Gayle then hit the first ball bowled by Trent Boult for a six before Mayank Agarwal cracked successive fours as KXIP notched up an incredible win to keep their IPL play-off hopes alive.
This was after Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Nicholas Pooran and KL Rahul in the first Super Over to leave MI with a six-run target.
However, Mohammed Shami bowled an equally incredible over as KXIP defended the five runs to take the match to a second Super Over.
Earlier, Rahul smashed a scintillating 51-ball 77 to take KXIP on the brink of a successful chase but team-mates Deepak Hooda and Jordan could only level the scores at 176 for six in the stipulated 20 overs.
Bumrah (3/24) snared three crucial wickets during the regulation 20 overs after opener Quinton de Kock (53 off 43) hit his fourth half-century of the season to restrict KXIP.
Opting to bat, MI were reduced to 43 for 3 but opener de Kock scored a 43-ball 53 and shared a 58-run stand with Krunal Pandya (34) to steady the ship.
Pollard (34 not out off 12) and Nathan Coulter-Nile (24 not out off 12) then provided the late flourish, adding 57 off 21 balls in the death overs as MI posted 176 for 6.
Chasing 177, Rahul, who currently holds the orange cap, blasted seven fours and three sixes in his knock to cross 500 runs this season and almost single-handedly take KXIP home.
He, alongwith Gayle (24), took KXIP to 75 for one in nine overs after losing Mayank Agarwal (11) early in the innings.
However, Gayle was sent packing by Rahul Chahar in the 10th over and then Bumrah returned to dismiss Nicholas Pooran (24 off 11) to leave Punjab at 108 for 3.
Rahul then pulled Chahar for a six to bring up yet another fifty but the leg-spinner made a good comeback one ball later, removing Glenn Maxwell at the other end as KXIP slipped to 115 for four in 14th over.
Rahul added another 38 with Deepak Hooda (23 not out) but he was done in by a yorker from Bumrah in the 18th over.
Needing 24 off 15 balls, Hooda and Chris Jordon (13) tied the match.
Earlier, de Kock hit three fours and as many sixes for his fourth fifty of the tournament to anchor the innings before Pollard and Coulter-Nile lifted MI past the 170-run mark.
The pace duo of Arshdeep Singh (2/35) and Mohammed Shami (2/30) provided the early breakthroughs, dismissing Rohit Sharma (9) and Suryakumar Yadav (0) respectively to reduce MI to 24 for two in 3.3 overs.
Ishan Kishan then became Arshdeep's second victim when he was caught at deep third man as MI ended the powerplay at 43 for 3.
Promoted up the order, Krunal deposited Chris Jordon's third ball over deep extra cover and then picked up a four off Glenn Maxwell in the next over.
With the spin duo of M Ashwin and Ravi Bishnoi bowling in tandem, MI picked up the odd boundaries but couldn't completely free their arms to play the shots.
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Mbappé equals ''idol'' Ronaldo with his record 59th goal in a year for Real Madrid
Barcelona (AP): Kylian Mbappé scored his 59th goal for Real Madrid in 2025 on Saturday to equal the club record for the most in a year held by Cristiano Ronaldo.
The milestone was about to escape the France striker until he converted a penalty kick with four minutes left to complete a 2-0 win over 10-man Sevilla in Madrid's final game of the year.
On his 27th birthday, Mbappé matched Ronaldo's tally from 2013. After embracing his teammates, he marked the feat with a subdued version of Ronaldo's trademark goal celebration — whereby the Portugal forward leaps up and thrusts his arms downwards upon landing — before blowing a kiss at the television cameras.
The former Paris Saint-Germain star, who joined Madrid in the summer of 2024, has scored 29 times for Madrid this season, including a league-leading 18.
“It's incredible, in my first (full) year to do what Cristiano did. (He's) my idol, the best player in the history of Real Madrid,” Mbappé said.
“My celebration is for him. I wanted to do that because he helped me adapt here and now I can help Madrid win games with my goals. I wanted to share it with him. I have a really good relationship with him, he is my friend, and I wish him and all Madrid fans a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”
Jude Bellingham scored with a header in the 38th minute and Sevilla lost defender Marcao to a second booking for rash tackles with 20 minutes left.
Sevilla coach Matías Almeyda also was expelled by the referee during the halftime break apparently for protesting.
Alonso dodges a bullet
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Alonso has been under pressure for several weeks due to a run of bad results and the overall lackluster play of his star-studded side. Spanish sports media is rife with speculation the first-year coach could be replaced.
Now Madrid club president Florentino Pérez will have two weeks to ponder the team's future before its next game against Real Betis on Jan. 4.
Alonso could have ill afforded another slip at the Santiago Bernabeu after his side lost its previous two home games. But Madrid's fans still had reason to grumble after Sevilla repeatedly created scoring chances — even after being reduced to 10 men.
Alexis Sánchez, still spry at age 37, and right back Juanlu Sánchez stood out the most for a Sevilla side that poked holes in Madrid's defense.
Madrid needed Thibaut Courtois to deny Alexis, Isaac Romero and Alfonso González on four strikes in the second half. But Sevilla could have gone ahead if it had just showed more finishing touch early on.
The result was still in doubt until Mbappé converted his spot kick after Juanlu fouled Rodrygo in the area.
“Today was a game we had to win, we were in a complicated situation,” Alonso said. “We know that we can play better, and now we have the three points and will try to start the new year by improving.”
Madrid is in second place at one point behind Barcelona before the leader visits third-placed Villarreal on Sunday.
Teams draw before hiring coaches
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Levante and Real Sociedad drew 1-1 in Valencia before both sides announced the hiring of new coaches.
Sociedad hired American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo, while Luís Castro joined last-placed Levante.
Budimir brace for Osasuna
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Ante Budimir scored his first league goals in nearly two months to help Osasuna beat Alaves 3-0 and achieve its biggest win of the campaign.
The Croatia striker volleyed in a cross for the 72nd-minute breakthrough after Alaves goalkeeper Antonio Sivera made several saves.
Budimir made it a brace from the penalty spot after a handball by Víctor Parada and Raúl García completed the scoring in stoppage time.
Pigeons on the pitch
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Real Oviedo did not improve in the debut of its third coach of the season after a scoreless draw with Celta Vigo at home.
Celta had the best chances to break the deadlock of a game that featured a small flock of pigeons that spent a long period of time on the field.
Guillermo Almada is Oviedo's third coach since returning to the top flight last season. The team from northern Spain is in second-to-last place.
