You just can’t help but take your hat off to Rashid Khan. If deciding to stay back and dish out match-winning performance for his side Adelaide Striker’s a day after his father’s demise wasn’t enough, then how about back to back helicopters and whirlwind batting performance to end the innings?
Rashid, who is better known for his leg-spinners, wielded the willow just like MS Dhoni towards the end of the innings to give the much-needed lift to the Strikers innings. Coming in to bat at No. 8 in the 18th over, Rashid smashed 21 off 7 deliveries including 2 sixes and 2 fours with one of them coming from a perfectly executed helicopter shot and another one from a half-helicopter half-swat over long-off. Yes, that was the best way to describe the shot.
Rashid was severe on Kane Richardson. He got off the mark with six over long-leg and then brought out his helicopters to render Richardson clueless in the two deliveries of the penultimate over. In the final over, Rashid hit another six off Usman Khan. Rashid’s pyrotechnics pushed the Strikers total to 158 for six. Jake Weatherald top scored with 73 off 46.
In reply, Melbourne Renegades could only manage 126 for 9 in their 20 overs. Rashid Khan returned with figures of 1 for 18. Billy Stanlake, Lian O Connor, Michael Neser picked up 2 wickets apiece. The 32-run victory lifted the Strikers to No.3 in the BBL 8 points table.