BBL 2022-23: Shadab Khan's stunning grab sends Aaron Hardie packing

Pakistan's leg-spinning all-rounder Shadab Khan has once again grabbed eyeballs for his exceptional fielding as he took a jaw-dropping catch in the ongoing Big Bash League on Monday, December 19. Playing for Hobart Hurricanes, the 24-year-old took a stunning catch off his own bowling to dismiss Aaron Hardie, and brought Hurricanes back into the contest.

The incident happened in the penultimate over of the match when Perth Scorchers needed 17 runs off ten deliveries. Hardie, who was well set at the crease by then, tried to place the ball towards the right of Shadab but the latter reacted quickly and dived to his right to grab a stunning catch.

SHADAB KHAN!

That is fully horizontal. Scorchers need 14 from the final over #BBL12 pic.twitter.com/lCd2Av824h

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 19, 2022

Overall in his four overs, Shadab gave away just 22 runs at an economy of 5.50. With the bat, the all-rounder scored the same amount of runs off 17 deliveries at a strike rate of 129.41. However, courtesy of Matthew Wade's half-century (51 off 29 deliveries) and Tim David’s (46* of 28 deliveries) valiant efforts, the Hurricanes finished at 172 after 20 overs.

Hurricanes defeated Scorchers by eight runs

In order to chase the total, Scorchers needed a blistering start and Faf du Plessis gave them exactly what they needed. The 38-year-old hammered the Hurricanes bowlers by scoring 32 off 16 deliveries and soon after his departure, wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis stepped up to the occasion and scored 62 off 37 deliveries. 

However, despite a good start, Scorchers lost their momentum after Inglis lost his wicket in the 15th over of the match. Patrick Dooley dismissed Inglis and put up a brilliant show to help the Hurricanes register their first win of the season. The 25-year-old left-arm wrist spinner picked up four wickets in his four overs and was adjudged the Player of the Match. 

“Fantastic atmosphere here, it's our second home, the boys put up an absolute show. It was an awesome effort from all the boys. He (Faf) was trying to back away and hit a six over cover. It's the nature of T20 cricket, I'll try to give me best (in the upcoming games),” Dooley said as quoted by Cricbuzz in the post-match presentation.