Strikers fall to Sixers despite Rashid Khan picking up a hat-trick

The Sixers may have taken the points but it was star Strikers spinner Rashid Khan and his ‘dream’ googly to top off a thrilling display of bowling that stole the headlines.

Rashid Khan of the Strikers celebrates his fourth wicket during the Big Bash League (BBL) cricket match between Adelaide Strikers and Sydney Sixers at Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, Wednesday, January 8, 2020. (AAP Image/Kelly Barnes) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY, IMAGES TO BE USED FOR NEWS REPORTING PURPOSES ONLY, NO COMMERCIAL USE WHATSOEVER, NO USE IN BOOKS WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT FROM AAP

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Adelaide Strikers marvel Rashid Khan rates the supreme googly that sealed a third Twenty20 hat-trick his “dream” ball and best of an immaculate Big Bash League journey.

Cricket’s No.1 ranked T20 bowler lit up Adelaide Oval with 4-22, including the middle stump hat-trick scalp of Sydney Sixers batsman Jordan Silk, but it couldn’t prevent a two wicket defeat on Wednesday.

“I wasn’t expecting to get this hat-trick, it wasn’t spinning much. After getting the first two it made me think what should I bowl,” recalled Rashid, with 49 wickets at 15.8 in 32 BBL matches.

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Khan celebrates his fourth wicket is a superb display. Photo: AAP Image/Kelly Barnes

Khan now has three hat-tricks.

“Before my mark I said ‘let’s go’, just need to pitch it in the right area and thank God I got a wicket.

“I think that was the best ball I have bowled in the BBL, just a perfect length and area to bowl it. You can only dream to bowl that as a hat-trick ball. I had to bowl my best bowl.”

Rashid is a hat-trick trailblazer, snaring Caribbean Premier League’s first in 2017. Last February the prodigy from Afghanistan’s dangerous Nangarhar province notched T20’s maiden international double hat-trick against Ireland.

Rashid showed why IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad forks out millions for his signature, breaking Daniel Hughes’ 32-run stand with James Vince. Adelaide’s superstar import then spun a web around Vince, Jack Edwards and Silk spanning the 11th and 13th overs.

“This is my third hat-trick, one in the Caribbean, one against Ireland and here,” said Rashid, the first Striker to record a hat-trick.

“I always enjoy it when the team needs me to get the wickets and you have to build the pressure on the batsmen. It always gives you extra energy and it is the time I have to get the run rate up and extra wickets for the team. I am always enjoying performing in those challenges.”

Originally published as Strikers fall to Sixers despite Rashid Khan picking up a hat-trick