Sanju Samson of Chennai Super Kings (AP Photo) Sanju Samson’s brief stint at the crease had it all – a life, a warning and ultimately an inevitable end at the hands of Jasprit Bumrah. It all happened in a dramatic second of the chase. Bumrah, known for his accuracy, struck immediately. His very first delivery was a hard ball outside off, rising awkwardly. Samson, standing slightly to one side, pushed him in disbelief. The ball had a strong outside edge and flew straight to first slip. It was as simple as it gets, but Will Jacks didn’t hold back, leaving guard and giving Samson a lifeline at 6. Bumrah’s reaction was telling. He turned away with a smile, almost knowing that in T20 cricket such chances can often be expensive. For a while it looked like Mumbai Indians might regret what happened. But Bumrah is not one to dwell on missed opportunities. He kept hitting his lengths, probing outside, questioning every ball. Samson, despite hitting a few boundaries, never looked quite composed against movement and bounce. The pressure kept building and on the last delivery, Bumrah got his reward. Charged at 138.7km/h, he again drew Samson into the game away from the body. The edge carried safely this time and Ryan Rickelton made no mistake in the cordon. Samson returned for 11 off 9 balls, his innings over almost as quickly as it threatened to shift the pace. The moment summed up Bumrah’s class – even when the odds fall, he finds a way to get back on par. Earlier, Chennai Super Kings did well to restrict Mumbai Indians to 159 for 7 thanks to disciplined spells from Noor Ahmad (2 for 26) and Anshul Kamboja (3 for 32). In a chase where every start counts, Samson’s early exit ensured MI stayed squarely on top, with Bumrah setting the tone despite this early blemish.
