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'Take a bow': Cricket world erupts over 'ridiculous' Rashid Khan act

Rashid Khan, pictured here ripping through the Brisbane Heat with six wickets.
Rashid Khan ripped through the Brisbane Heat with six wickets. Image: Getty/BBL

Rashid Khan gifted the Adelaide Strikers the perfect leaving present on Wednesday night when he became just the third player in BBL history to take a six-wicket haul.

A career-best display by the Afghan leg-spinner propelled Adelaide to a thumping 71-run triumph over Brisbane in his final game of the season.

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Khan destroyed the Heat batting lineup at the Gabba, claiming 6-17 off his four overs including twice being on a hat-trick.

After starting 0-11, Khan claimed his six wickets for just six runs as Brisbane were rolled for 90 in reply to Adelaide's 4-161.

It marked just the third time in BBL history that a player has taken six wickets in a match after Lasith Malinga's 6-7 for Perth in 2012 and Ish Sodhi's 6-11 for the Strikers in 2017.

The big win sent Adelaide soaring from the bottom of the ladder into fifth above Brisbane with four matches to play before the finals.

It was also a perfect farewell for Khan before he departs to join up with his national team ahead of matches with the Netherlands in Qatar later this month.

"This game, this momentum will give us so much energy for the rest of the games," the 23-year-old said.

"As a team we had a very tough season this year ... that's the kind of click as a team you need at this stage and once you on, you're just on and on.

"It's good to finish up well and I wish all the very best for the rest of the guys, they do well and they go to the finals."

Fans and commentators flocked to social media in awe of Khan's historic display.

Rashid Khan destroys Heat with stunning spell

Khan began his rout in the ninth over when he dismissed Sam Heazlett (0) and Jake Lehmann (0) in consecutive deliveries.

His double strike was part of a team hat-trick with Lachlan Pfeffer (23 off 24) run out on the first ball of the over.

Pfeffer's demise, as well as the quickfire exits of Heazlett and Lehmann, meant Brisbane slumped from 2-62 at the start of the 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 came back to wrap up the innings in his fourth over, removing Matthew Kuhnemann (1) and compatriot Mujeeb Ur Rahman (0) for his fourth career T20 five-wicket haul.

Rashid Khan, pictured here after taking six wickets for the Adelaide Strikers against Brisbane Heat.
Rashid Khan celebrates after taking six wickets for the Adelaide Strikers against Brisbane Heat. (Photo by Chris Hyde - CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images) (Cricket Australia via Getty Imag)

A spectacular catch at slip by Short off Khan's final delivery dismissed Liam Guthrie (0) to eclipse his previous best of 5-3 for Aghanistan against Ireland in what was his 300th T20 appearance.

"As soon as I have seen the wicket and bowled a few balls I was like, this wicket is good, as long as I'm pitching it in the right area I can make the batsman in trouble and give me a few wickets," he said.

"That's what happened."

The Heat welcomed back six players following a Covid outbreak in the squad but it was to no avail as they slipped to their eighth defeat of the summer.

Xavier Bartlett was one of those to return and while the big quick conceded a lack of preparation didn't help the hosts, he also acknowledged Khan's dominance.

"He's the best T20 bowler in the world for a reason and we saw it first hand tonight," Bartlett said.

"When he gets one he more often than not gets two.

"He got back-to-back wickets ... he's awesome."

The Strikers host table-topping Perth on Friday in Adelaide while Brisbane hit the road to face the Melbourne Stars at the MCG on Sunday.

with AAP

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