The Bellerive crowd has found a new cult hero in Rana Naved-ul-Hasan after the Pakistani import produced a man-of-the-match winning performance in the Tigers' 17-run Big Bash victory over the Warriors on New Years Day.
With Tasmania in trouble at 5-74, Rana (47) combined beautifully with Travis Birt (54) for a state record, sixth-wicket Twenty20 partnership of 74 runs that laid the platform for a defendable 8-167.
And, despite being smashed for 16 runs off his first over, Rana returned fire in style as he claimed 3-6 from his next two overs to go with two incredible run-outs as the Warriors were bowled out for 150 in 18.5 overs.
Despite losing their first three wickets, the Warriors appeared to be cruising to victory as skipper Adam Voges (31 from 20 deliveries) and Mitchell Marsh (21 from 20) built a steady partnership.
But it was all downhill after Jason Krejza had Voges trapped in front with the score on 95 before Rana came to the fore.
In bizarre circumstances he managed to run out Mitchell Marsh as the bowler jumped high to block a shot from Theo Doropoulos that was hit hard into the pitch. The ball miraculously came off Rana's hand onto the stumps with Marsh caught short of his ground.
Two balls later, Rana started producing some reverse swing on the Bellerive pitch, trapping Bradley Porter in front for a golden duck as the 15th over saw two wickets fall.
Rana's very next over, the 17th of the innings, saw him again swing the ball into the right-handers, trapping Ashley Noffke (4 from 6) in front as the batsman stepped across his wickets before bowling the dangerous Theo Doropoulos for 18.
Brendan Drew had Aaron Heal (three) caught at mid-wicket in the 18th over, leaving the Warriors needing 37 runs from 15 deliveries to produce a miracle win.
Despite it looking unlikely, No. 11 bat Brad Knowles provided some hope as he clubbed 14 off five deliveries, before falling victim to Rana's second miraculous run-out, the batsman charging down the pitch and colliding with the bowler as Rana attempted to field. With Knowles off balance, Rana took a shy at the stumps, ending WA's resistance.
The result sees Tasmania claim its first win of the Big bash campaign after losing its first match to New South Wales, while the Warriors have lost both their first two encounters and will need to win all of their last three games to figure in finals contention.
It may have been a different contest had Warriors import Chris Gayle been able to open. But his injury kept him from travelling, allowing openers Sean Marsh (27 from 17) and Luke Ronchi (18 from 14) to make an enterprising start.
But when the openers and returning batsman Luke Pomersbach (6 from four) were out, it paved the way for Voges and Mitch Marsh to compile a 41-run stand that may could have provided a much-needed win had Rana not stepped up.
Earlier in the afternoon, the Pakistan all-rounder produced some audacious batting as he combined with Travis Birt to great effect.
Coming together with the score at 5-74 in the 11th over, half-centurion Birt and Rana took to the Warriors attack, putting on a 74-run stand that swung the momentum back in the Tigers favour.
Birt may have started cautiously, looking on as several top-order wickets fell, but once into his groove showed just how devastating he can be as he smashed 54 off 42 deliveries, including one of the biggest sixes seen at Bellerive off Voges' bowling.
Rana proved the firebrand, though, taking to the Warriors bowlers with gusto as he smashed 47 off 27, while Heal proved the best of the visiting bowlers, claiming 2-15 from his four overs.
Birt eventually lost his wicket to Nathan Coulter-Nile in the 18th over, with Rana following the very next ball, but Brett Geeves and Brendan Drew took the Tigers through to a defendable total.