Rashid takes third-best figures ever in thumping win

Afghan leg-spinner Rashid Khan has lit up the Gabba to steer the Strikers off the bottom of the BBL|11 ladder with a 71-run win over the Brisbane Heat.

Khan dismissed Heat batters Sam Heazlett (0) and Jake Lehmann (0) in consecutive deliveries in his second over on his way to match-winning figures of 6-17 as the Heat were bowled out for 90 in 15 overs on Wednesday.

It's Rashid's final game of the season, with the leg-spinner soon departing for international duty.

The 23-year-old's double strike was part of a team hat-trick with Lachlan Pfeffer (23 off 24) run out off the first ball of the over.

Khan then removed Heazlett and Lehmann for first-ball ducks as Brisbane went from 2-62 at the start of the ninth over to 5-62 just three deliveries later.

When English import Ben Duckett (24), who smashed a match-winning 78 runs off just 47 balls when the teams met earlier this summer, bottom-edged a slog sweep onto his stumps off Matthew Short (2-13) two overs later, the hosts were reduced to 6-67.

Khan returned to secure the third-best bowling figures in BBL history when he claimed three more wickets in his fourth and final over to wrap up the win.

Earlier, Adelaide skipper Peter Siddle chose to bat as the Heat welcomed back six players from COVID isolation.

Led by Jake Weatherald's 35 off 31 deliveries, Adelaide scored a competitive 4-161 off their 20 overs.

Khan had a similar impact with the bat as he did with the ball after he was elevated to No.6 in the order in a pinch-hitting role.

He scored back-to-back sixes off his first two deliveries before being bowled off his pads by compatriot Mujeeb Ur Rahman (1-28) to end his four-ball 13-run innings.

Will Prestwidge was the pick of the bowlers for the Heat with 2-34 while Matthew Kuhnemann (1-27) was the other wicket-taker.

The victory, which included the Bash Boost point, lifts the Strikers from the bottom of the ladder to fifth and ahead of the Heat with four matches to play ahead of the BBL|11 finals.

The Strikers host table-topping Perth on Friday in Adelaide while the Heat’s next scheduled game is on the road against the Melbourne Stars in Victoria on Sunday.

Best Bowling Figures – Big Bash League

Lasith Malinga – 6-7, Stars v Scorchers, Perth, 2012

Ish Sodhi – 6-11, Strikers v Thunder, Sydney, 2017

Rashid Khan – 6-17, Strikers v Heat, Brisbane, 2022

Dan Christian – 5-14, Hurricanes v Strikers, Hobart, 2017

Mujeeb Ur Rahman – 5-15, Heat v Hurricanes, Brisbane, 2020