Twitter Reactions: Rashid Khan lights up Adelaide Oval on New Year's Eve; Thunder snatch victory from jaws of defeat

Adelaide Strikers locked horns with Sydney Thunder in the 17th match of Big Bash League 2019-20. It turned out to be a roller coaster ride for the fans with Rashid Khan showing his class batting with his camel bat. However, his brilliant knock went to vain as Thunder defeated Strikers by three runs in the final Big Bash League game of the year 2019.

Earlier, Sydney Thunder won the toss and elected to bat but didn’t get off to a good start as they lost their in-form opener, Alex Hales, at a score of 31. The right-handed batsman never looked in the flow and was bowled by Strikers’ tall-heightened fast bowler Billy Stanlake. Later on, Callum Ferguson and Usman Khawaja stitched a brilliant partnership of 71 runs for the third wicket and helped their side in overcoming the early setback.

Ferguson mustered 73 runs off 46 balls with seven boundaries and two sixes followed by the brilliant knock of 63 runs played by Usman Khawaja. But, Strikers failed to finish their innings on a high note due to which they could only post a total of 168 runs at a loss of 5 wickets in stipulated 20 overs. For Adelaide Strikers, Peter Siddle turned out to be the best bowler, who registered brilliant bowling figures of 2/30.

Rashid Khan’s hard work went in vain

Coming to the chase, Strikers got off to a worst possible start as they lost their opener Philip Salt without scoring a single run in second over of the innings. The right-handed batsman tried to make a room and attempted for a boundary over the extra cover off Daniel Sams. But, he didn’t get the elevation right due to which he was caught by Ferguson.

Jake Weatherald from the other end looked in full flow, who smashed Thunder bowlers across the park. He smashed 52 runs off 37 balls with four big sixes and two boundaries before his inning came to a halt. He failed to anticipate the slower delivery bowled by Daniel Sams and chips the ball straight to long-on fielder Chris Green. It was the turning point of the match when Strikers started losing their grip over the match. Alex Carey and Jonathan Wells also got out cheaply as the former scored 19 runs and latter mustered 26.

Rashid Khan played a cameo of 40 runs off 18 balls with three sixes and four boundaries. He took the match to the last over but all the hopes of Strikers were shattered as the Afghanistan all-rounder got run out while stealing a double on the penultimate ball of the last over. In the end, Thunder won the game by a margin of three runs. Callum Ferguson was awarded the Man of the Match for his brilliant knock that helped Thunder in grabbing two important points that took them to the number one position on the league table.

Here is how Twitter reacted: 

.@rashidkhan_19's 40 off 18 wasn't enough as Adelaide Strikers lose by 3 runs against Sydney Thunder. #BBL #BBL09 pic.twitter.com/Af3gY96GkF

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) December 31, 2019

A sad end to a great knock by Rashid.

Adelaide was 116 for 6 from 15.2 overs then Rashid Khan came and scored 40 runs from 18 balls including 4 fours and 3 sixes.

He has been runout when Adelaide need 4 from 1 balls.#BBL09

— Johns (@CricCrazyJohns) December 31, 2019

My goodness. @rashidkhan_19 what an innings. Incredible game of cricket.

Something special about the NYE @bbl at Adelaide. #BBL09 @7Cricket

— Trent Copeland (@copes9) December 31, 2019

Rashid Khan is a genius.

— Johns (@CricCrazyJohns) December 31, 2019

Camel bat manufacturers after this innings:#BBL09 pic.twitter.com/pXzQ1ruYGU

— Manya (@CSKian716) December 31, 2019

whew. A big win for the Thunder (in significance not size) defeating the Strikers in the Adelaide NYE clash by 3 runs. Both teams on 7 pts from 4 games. #BBL09

— Rick Eyre on cricket (@rickeyrecricket) December 31, 2019

Fabulous innings from Rashid Khan.

— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) December 31, 2019

What a match! 🙌🏼 NYE game providing the goods again 💙 #BBL

— Megan Schutt (@megan_schutt) December 31, 2019

Getting so close may have preserved the Strikers’ position at the top of the #BBL ladder. But Wes Agar not taking the single off the last ball hasn’t helped.

— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) December 31, 2019

Insane innings by Rashid Khan, but Thunder deserved to close that out after the smoke debacle.

— Static_357 (@Static_a357) December 31, 2019

Rashid khan is the MOST VALUABLE PLAYER(MVP) in the planet ri8 nw. Destructive with the bat. Unbelievable with the bowl. And gun in the field. Can't ask more. Hard luck today, but what an effort. Simply unbelievable. #BBL @rashidkhan_19. Waiting to see u back in SRH

— Mohd Fuzail Ahmad (@mohdfuzailahmad) December 31, 2019

Chris Morris holds his nerve….Just. In hindsight Rashid Khan probably should have turned down the run off the second last ball and attempted to hit the 4 off the last ball to send it to a Super Over. #BBL09

— Anthony Morgan (@anthfieg1) December 31, 2019

New Year's Resolution: Rashid Khan should be batting in the top 6. #BBL09

— Matty (@MatanSlonim1997) December 31, 2019

Rashid Khan 😳🔥

Some incredible shots from Rashid Khan at the end. Didn’t quite see Adelaide home but some amazing batting. If you get the chance give that a watch back…

— Countdown Cricket (@CountCricket) December 31, 2019