Winter Watch (w/e 31 Dec): Rashid Khan continues sublime Big Bash form

While the rest of Australia enjoyed some time off for Christmas, it was business as usual for the cricketers involved in the Big Bash last week.

Rashid Khan continued his sublime form for Jason Gillespie’s Adelaide Strikers in their match against Perth Scorchers on Boxing Day. Having earlier belted 21 off 12 balls to drag the Strikers up to 88 all out, he then conceded just nine runs from his four overs (that’s an economy rate of 2.25 runs per over!). Unsurprisingly, the Scorchers eventually won by seven wickets, although it did take them 18 overs.

Rashid picked up 2-34 as the Strikers bounced back with a 20-run victory over Sydney Thunder at the Adelaide Oval on New Year’s Eve. After the Strikers posted 175-4, Rashid took the wickets of Jason Sangha and Daniel Sams to help restrict the Thunder to 155-6.

That match came a day after the news that Rashid had lost his father. The thoughts of everyone at Sussex Cricket are with Rashid and his family at this very sad time.

In a high-scoring affair at the Bellerive Oval on Friday, Jofra Archer was not alone among Hobart Hurricanes bowlers in being on the receiving end of some big-hitting from Jos Buttler whose 89 off 54 balls took Sydney Thunder to 193-6 from their 20 overs. It was Jofra who finally ended Buttler’s onslaught, however, taking a catch off his own bowling as he finished with 1-47 from his four overs. The Hurricanes made light work of their hefty chase in the end, making it home by seven wickets and with five balls to spare to maintain their 100% record in this year’s Big Bash.

That winning start continued on Sunday as the Hurricanes cruised to a six-wicket victory over Perth Scorchers. Jofra’s figures of 0-26 from four overs helped restrict the Scorchers to just 107-8, a target that the Hurricanes knocked off inside 18 overs.

The Women’s Big Bash also continued apace last week. Danni Wyatt made seven from 11 balls at the top of the order for Melbourne Renegades on Wednesday in their seven-wicket defeat to Sydney Sixers at the SCG. She also took a catch as the Sixers chased down their target of 111 with nearly six overs to spare.

The Renegades bounced back on Friday, winning a thrilling derby match against Melbourne Stars at the Docklands Stadium in Melbourne by one wicket and with one ball remaining. Danni executed a run out during the Stars’ innings of 130 all out before hitting 18 off 12 balls as the Renegades made it home… just!

Danni’s Sussex teammate, Georgia Elwiss was also involved in that match, making 20 off 20 balls from number five during the Stars innings and then bowling two overs for 13 runs including the wicket of Georgia Wareham.