Australian quick Daniel Sams is rapidly becoming a Mumbai Indians cult hero as he followed up a masterpiece death over against Gujarat in the IPL with a player-of-the-match winning display against Chennai.
With a little help from his paceman friend Riley Meredith, the Australian duo were instrumental in orchestrating Mumbai's five-wicket victory at their home Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.
The battle between the league's two highest-profile but currently ailing teams was decided largely by Sams' brilliant four-over display which saw him take 3-16 while Meredith chipped in with 2-27 as they skittled Chennai for 97, their second-lowest total in IPL annals.
Even Mumbai's struggling batters couldn't make a mistake chasing this feeble total as another Australian Tim David, cracked two big sixes in his 16 not out to guide them to their target on 5-103 with more than five overs to spare.
The 29-year-old Sams is getting into his stride for Mumbai, having bowled the miserly death over that earned them a win against Gujarat six days earlier.
This time, he struck early, winning a debatable lbw decision against in-form New Zealander Devon Conway off the second ball.
Conway was left fuming and unable to review the dismissal because DRS wasn't available at the stadium due to a power failure. It returned halfway through the innings.
Sams then got Moeen Ali to lob an easy catch after being caught off-guard by a short-pitched delivery that cramped him for room, and he struck again by having Ruturaj Gaikwad caught behind to a leg-side tickle in his third over.
The left-armer from Milperra was even outshining his brilliant teammate Jasprit Bumrah at the other end as Chennai looked in danger of being skittled for less than 79, their lowest IPL score also against Mumbai nine years ago.
Meredith got in the act by claiming the wickets of Ambati Rayudu and Shivam Dube in successive overs to reduce Chennai to 6-39, before MS Dhoni spared the Super Kings from real embarrassment with an unbeaten 36.
Meredith responded beautifully after Rayudu had cracked him through the covers for a boundary, finding a hint of movement back in to take the inside edge while the extra pace stalled the batter's footwork.
Dube was well caught by leaping keeper Quinton de Kock after attempting a ramp over the cordon to a rapid short-pitched ball.
Meredith later joked that he had "taken it personally" after the speed gun in the previous match showed him bowling around the 130kph mark, and hit 147kph against Chennai.
Mumbai's batters also struggled to get going in seam-friendly conditions, with allrounder Sams' night soured a little by getting dismissed for just one after being thrown up the order to No.3.
He was one of paceman Mukesh Chaudhary's three victims in the batting Powerplay, which reduced Mumbai to 4-33 before their recovery was completed by Tilak Varma (34no off 32 balls) and David (16no off seven), who slammed his second six with just one run required.
"I just figured out that I was focusing on the batter too much and not focusing on my strengths," said Sams afterwards as he reflected on how he's got stronger as the season has progressed.
"That was something to work on at training and it was more about reflection of when I come out here, I'm going to do what I do really well.
"The whole IPL this year has been beautiful wickets to bowl on. There's some that have been flat, but there's been some that have some nice pace, nice bounce and a little bit more grass. So it's been really enjoyable.
"Obviously, today's pitch was bowler friendly so it's good to see a T20 game where the bowlers dominate."
The 2022 Indian Premier League will be broadcast live in Australia on Fox Sports and live streamed on Kayo
Australians in IPL 2022
Delhi Capitals: Mitchell Marsh, David Warner
Gujarat Titans: Matthew Wade
Kolkata Knight Riders: Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch
Lucknow Super Giants: Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye
Mumbai Indians: Tim David, Daniel Sams, Riley Meredith
Punjab Kings: Nathan Ellis
Rajasthan Royals: Nathan Coulter-Nile
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Glenn Maxwell, Josh Hazlewood, Jason Behrendorff
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Sean Abbott
