AUSTRALIA: Rashid Khan once again displays his magical spin bowling as he took 6/17 to help the Adelaide Strikers defeat Brisbane Heat by 71 runs. This was Rashid Khan’s best bowling performance in his T20 career. Adelaide Strikers are at the last position in the Big Bash League points table whereas Brisbane Heat is at 5th position at the points table.
In this match after winning the toss, Adelaide Strikers decided to bat first. Matthew Short and Henry Hunt were opening the batting for the Adelaide Strikers. They both stitched up a 32 runs partnership for the opening wicket in which 27 runs were scored by Matthew Kelly. Matthew Kelly got out off a delivery bowled by Will Prestwidge. He got out after scoring 27 runs off 19 deliveries which included 3 fours.
Jake Weatherhald and Henry Hunt’s 50 run partnership
Jake Weatherald was the next batsman after the fall of the first wicket. Jake Weatherald along with Henry Hunt stitched up a 53 runs partnership between them. Brisbane Heat bowler Matthew Kuhnemann broke the partnership by getting rid of Henry Hunt who scored 25 runs off 26 deliveries which included 1 four and Adelaide Strikers were 85/2 after 11.2 overs.
The problem with the Adelaide Strikers batsmen was that they weren’t scoring runs at a good strike rate. Jonathan Wells joined Jake Weatherald in the middle and they both put up a 23 runs partnership. Jake Weatherald got out after scoring 35 runs off 31 deliveries which included 1 four and 1 six.
Adelaide Strikers were 108/3 after 14.3 overs. Rashid Khan accelerated the Adelaide Strikers innings by playing a short but effective cameo knock. Rashid Khan scored 13 runs off just 4 deliveries which included 2 sixes. When he got out Strikers were 125/4 after 16.1 overs.
Jonathan Wells along with Thomas Kelly added 36 in the last 3.5 overs to take the Adelaide Strikers to a total of 161/4 after 20 overs. Jonathan Wells remained unbeaten on 23 runs whereas Thomas Kelly scored an unbeaten 24 runs off 16 deliveries which included 1 four and 1 six.
For Brisbane Heat, Will Prestwidge took 2 wickets while Matthew Kuhnemann and Mujeeb Ur Rahman took 1 wicket each.
Brisbane Heat had a bad start as both their openers, Chris Lynn (7) and Nathan McSweeney (5) got out under 3 overs leaving Brisbane Heat to 17/2 after 2.2 overs. Matthew Short removed Nathan McSweeney whereas Henry Thornton removed Chris Lynn.
After two quick wickets, Lachlan Pfeffer and Ben Duckett stitched up a 45 runs partnership between them but unfortunately, Lachlan Pfeffer got run out after scoring 23 runs off 24 deliveries.
Rashid Khan restricts Brisbane Heat below 100 runs
After Lachlan Pfeffer got out, Rashid Khan completely demolished the Brisbane Heat batsmen. He removed Sam Heazlett (0) and Jake Lehmann (0) on 2 consecutive deliveries and Brisbane Heat were 62/5 after 8.3 overs. Ben Duckett scored 24 runs off 18 deliveries but he was dismissed by Matthew Short.
Rashid Khan kept picking up wickets. He picked up 6 wickets. He removed 5 batsmen for a duck. Brisbane Heat was clueless against Rashid Khan and because of his tremendous bowling, Brisbane Heat got all out for 90 runs in 15 overs. From Brisbane Heat, Xavier Bartlett remained unbeaten on 19 runs.
For Adelaide Strikers, Rashid Khan took 6 wickets, Matthew Short took 2 wickets and Henry Thornton took 1 wicket.
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