- SportsTak

Rashid Khan ended his Big Bash League (BBL) campaign for Adelaide Strikers in style by leading his team to a big win amidst a struggling season. The leg-spinner registered triggered a massive collapse from Brisbane Heat as they crumbled in the run chase going from 62/2 to 90 all out.

Rashid took six wickets from his quota of four overs and conceded just 17 runs in his 300th T20 match. He became the third bowler in BBL history to take a six-wicket haul after Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga and New Zealand’s Ish Sodhi.

The Afghan leggie was brought into the attack by skipper Peter Siddle right after the powerplay overs. He was hit for 11 runs in his first over of the match. In the next over, he turned the game on his head. Off the first ball of the over, Lachlan Pfeffer got run out and then Rashid got Sam Heazlett and Jake Lehmann out for respective first-ball ducks. He got another wicket of Will Prestwidge in his next over for a six-ball duck. In the 15th over he was on hat-trick again with Matthew Kuhnemann and Mujeeb’s wicket. He did not get his maiden BBL hat-trick but wrapped up Brisbane’s innings for 90 helping his team win by a big margin of 71 runs. Also, during the collapse as many as five batters got out for ducks.

Earlier, Rashid did damage with the bat as well hitting two big sixes in the 15th over off Xavier Bartlett while coming to bat at no.5. He got out in a bizarre way trying to make room to free his arms. His countryman Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s delivery hit his pads and ricocheted to the stumps. The cameo specialist scored 13 runs off just four deliveries. With valuable contributions throughout, Strikers posted 161/4 after winning the toss and opting to bat first.

He ended his BBL campaign as the highest wicket-taker with 20 wickets from 11 games to his name at an average of 13.95 and an impressive economy rate of 6.34. On the other hand, Strikers have had a horrible season as they are placed fifth on the points table with just three wins from 11 games and 17 points against their name.