Adelaide Strikers star Rashid Khan vows to cause bowlers more headaches after nearly pulling off a New Year’s Eve miracle

Adelaide Strikers star legspinner Rashid Khan says hard work on his batting is paying off after his stunning innings against Sydney Thunder on New Year’s Eve.

CRACKING SHOT: Striker Rashid Khan thumps a boundary during his near-matchwinning innings against the Sydney Thunder on New Year’s Eve. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

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Adelaide Strikers star Rashid Khan has promised more fireworks with the bat, saying his spectacular, near-matchwinning New Year’s Eve innings against Sydney Thunder was no fluke.

The star Afghanistan leg-spinner revealed he had been working hard on his batting since BBL08 and was ready to produce more game-turning cameos with the stick after sensationally bringing the Strikers back from the brink at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday night.

Rashid – batting at No. 8 – smashed a savage 40 from 18 balls, including three sixes and four boundaries, before dropping his bat and being run out at the striker’s end attempting a second run on the penultimate ball of the game.

His dismissal left the home side needing four runs from the final delivery for victory but incoming batsman Wes Agar failed to get bat on ball and was run out attempting a bye.

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The three-run defeat was the Strikers’ first of BBL09, leaving them second on the table, behind the Thunder on net run rate, with a 3-1-1 record.

Rashid dominated a 47-run partnership in 23 balls with pace bowler Peter Siddle (four not out) to give Adelaide an unlikely shot at maintaining their unbeaten New Year’s Eve run after they had slumped to 7/118 after 16 overs in pursuit of Sydney’s 5/168.

It was soo much fun, an absolutely lovely environment and the best way to start 2020 .Not the result we wanted but Thank you sooo much to everyone for being there and made new year’s eve more special and unforgettable. @cricketcomau @BBL @StrikersBBL 🙌🏻🙌🏻

— Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) January 1, 2020

“I did my best to get two runs (to retain the strike) but it didn’t happen,’’ said Rashid, who played a series of unconventional shots, including a cracking sweep-type stroke off left-arm speedster Daniel Sams, in hitting the ball to all parts of Adelaide Oval.

“I went too hard for it and that’s why I dropped my bat at the end but I had to forget about it and just try to get to the other end.

“I was unlucky hitting the ball straight to a fielder (Arjun Nair at fine leg) because if it had gone a little bit either way of him we probably would have got two runs.’’

Rashid Khan thumps a six against the Sydney Thunder. Picture: Kelly Barnes/AAP

Sydney Thunder players celebrate their thrilling three-run triumph against the Strikers. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

Rashid’s superb cameo produced his highest BBL score and dragged the Strikers back into the match, thrilling the crowd of 41,414.

“We had to go hard, we had to smash and we knew that (eastern boundary) side was shorter,’’ he said.

“You can easily get 30 runs off two overs, that was the plan between me and ‘Sids’ but unfortunately we came up just short.’’

Rashid, who uses a bat which is at its thinnest in the middle and beefed up at both ends, said he backed himself to get the job done with the bat after spending much more time on his batting in the past 12 months.

“I’ve been working on my batting in the past year and the hard work in the nets is paying off in the middle,’’ he said.

“I work on all my shots and then when I’m out in the middle just play my natural game, go for it, give 100 per cent.’’

Thunder captain Callum Ferguson said he thought his side’s score was “just above par’’ but knew how dangerous Rashid could be.

“We knew the game wasn’t over while he was at the crease,” he said.

The Strikers players have a two-day break from training before flying to Coffs Harbour on Saturday for their next match against Sydney Sixers at 6.10pm on Sunday.

Originally published as Adelaide Strikers star Rashid Khan vows to cause bowlers more headaches after nearly pulling off a New Year’s Eve miracle