Striking back: reigning champion Adelaide surges up Big Bash League table

Reigning champions Adelaide Strikers have leapt back to second on the Big Bash League standings with Jake Weatherald guiding them to a thumping 32-run win against Melbourne Renegades.

Renegades wicketkeeper Sam Harper whips off the bail to run out Strikers batsman Matthew Short. Picture: Getty Images

Reigning champions Adelaide Strikers have leapt back to second on the Big Bash League standings with a thumping 32-run win against Melbourne Renegades on Thursday night.

Jake Weatherald led the way for Adelaide with 71 from 44 balls but the Renegades did well to restrict the strikers to 6/127 after 18 overs.

Strikers pair Matthew Short (left) and Jake Weatherald were run out in similar circumstances. Picture: Fox Cricket

But leg-spin sensation Rashid Khan then put the Strikers back on top with a stunning cameo with the bat, setting the Renegades a target of 159 they never looked like reaching - thanks mainly to some impressive slow bowling from leggie Liam O’Connor (2/21 off four overs), skipper Colin Ingram (1/20) and Rashid.

RASHID CAN

Rashid Khan grew up as an opening batsman in Afghanistan and he served a timely reminder. The world’s No.1 T20 bowler came to the crease with two overs remaining and went six, dot, four, four, one, six. Yes, Rashid the renowned mystery spinner was 21 off six balls – a strike-rate of 350 – as he boosted the Strikers to 158 when an under-par 140 looked more likely. His second six was a helicopter-type shot which flew miles. Khan, 20, then removed. And he says his younger brother is a better spinner.

No, Rashid, you’re the best. Picture: Getty

KANE UNABLE AWAY

There is no place like home for Kane Richardson. Unfortunately, he travels like a paper plane filled with rocks. Richardson has cost 113 runs in three matches away from Marvel Stadium this season – 2/39, 0/39 and last night’s 0/35. An economy rate of 9.4 runs is ugly for a renowned death bowler who Australia called on with the white ball not so long ago. Under the roof and on the tricky Marvel pitch, Richardson has taken 3/23 and 3/22 – just 5.6 per over.

RUN-OUT

Roofs or flats? Jake Weatherald and Matt Short opted for roofs – and it cost them their wickets. The explosive Adelaide Strikers batsmen were both given run-out despite their bats sliding inches over the crease after big, diving lunges. The problem was, the bats landed on the roof side, and third umpire Sam Nogajski deemed they were in the air instead of grounded as he pressed the ‘OUT’ button. And so Matt Short wasn’t short, and yet wasn’t safe. But the big blow was Weatherald, who looked in a mood to strike one back to his hometown in Darwin. Weatherald brought up his 50 (26) with a six over cow corner and finished with 71 (44) courtesy of some dynamic stroke play as he punished anything short with a crack of the wrists. Were the batsmen out? About 75 per cent of fans on a Twitter poll said the umpire got them right.

Alex Carey and Billy Stanlake in a tangle. Picture: Getty

NO-BALL MAYHEM

T20 cricket moves at a manic pace – just ask Renegades captain Tom Cooper. “I don’t even know why we have a substitute fielder,” Cooper said when the Gades conceded a no-ball and free hit for having only three men inside the circle during the power-play. The sub was supposed to come inside the ring but didn’t, a cardinal T20 sin. It was former captain Cameron White who first asked the umpire why it was a no-ball, and Cooper was eventually told by the TV commentary box the substitute was on while Pakistan bowler Usman Shinwari had his shin treated. Alex Carey blasted a straight drive into Shinwari’s shin as he completed his follow through, and a painful egg-shaped lump blew up in seconds. Ouch. Weatherald then blasted three consecutive boundaries off Shinwari’s next over before he left the field for treatment by longtime Cricket Victoria doctor Trefor James.

GEELONG RENEGADES

Geelong Renegades and Collingwood Stars? Cricket’s green team sat in on a Nathan Buckley game review this season and attended a Melbourne Storm game on the bench in the search of improved leadership qualities. And Brownlow Medallist Patrick Dangerfield revealed last night the red team has embarked a similar path, combining forces with the Cats. Dangerfield sported a Gades polo and cap – but don’t expect a cameo anytime soon. “I’m putrid (at cricket),” Dangerfield said. “I am terrible.” The Renegades-Geelong link runs deep. Coach Andrew McDonald lives in Geelong, Aaron Finch lives in Colac, Tim Ludeman plays for Geelong and assistant coach Andre Borevec coaches Geelong.

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Originally published as Striking back: reigning champion Adelaide surges up Big Bash League table