Afghanistan’s star player Rashid Khan lit up the Dallas skies above the Grand Prairie Stadium on Wednesday with his blistering half-century for MI New York (MINY) in their Major League Cricket (MLC) Eliminator against the Texas Super Kings (TSK).
Batting higher in the order than usual, the allrounder bludgeoned TSK bowlers during his 30-ball stay that produced 55 runs, which included an innnovation that stood out in the highlights package of the MINY innings that finished at 163 for 8 in 20 overs.
It’s almost a common sight to see Rashid successfully replicate MS Dhoni’s ‘helicopter’ shot — a rapid aerial whip from almost the off-stump towards the on-side, often resulting in a six. But on Wednesday, Rashid added a touch of his own innovation to it, producing the shot with a horizonal bat off a ball from pacer Aaron Hardie (2 for 22) pitched just short of the good-length area.
WATCH
The MINY innings started on the wrong foot after they were asked to bat first by TSK. They lost opener Dewald Brevis for a duck and the big wicket of Nicholas Pooran (8) by Marcus Stoinis inside four overs to be 18 for 2.
It followed a brief partnership of 39 runs between Shayan Jahangir and Monank Patel, before Dwayne Bravo (2 fof 18) broke the stand by sending Jahangir (26 off 23 balls) back.
That brought Rashid in to join Patel, but just when the partnership started looking threatening, having added 35 runs, spinner Noor Ahmad produced a wicket in the form of Patel (48 off 41 balls).
Batting higher in the order than usual, the allrounder bludgeoned TSK bowlers during his 30-ball stay that produced 55 runs, which included an innnovation that stood out in the highlights package of the MINY innings that finished at 163 for 8 in 20 overs.
It’s almost a common sight to see Rashid successfully replicate MS Dhoni’s ‘helicopter’ shot — a rapid aerial whip from almost the off-stump towards the on-side, often resulting in a six. But on Wednesday, Rashid added a touch of his own innovation to it, producing the shot with a horizonal bat off a ball from pacer Aaron Hardie (2 for 22) pitched just short of the good-length area.
WATCH
The MINY innings started on the wrong foot after they were asked to bat first by TSK. They lost opener Dewald Brevis for a duck and the big wicket of Nicholas Pooran (8) by Marcus Stoinis inside four overs to be 18 for 2.
It followed a brief partnership of 39 runs between Shayan Jahangir and Monank Patel, before Dwayne Bravo (2 fof 18) broke the stand by sending Jahangir (26 off 23 balls) back.
That brought Rashid in to join Patel, but just when the partnership started looking threatening, having added 35 runs, spinner Noor Ahmad produced a wicket in the form of Patel (48 off 41 balls).
Thereafter Rashid counter-attacked to take his team to challenging total, as Romario Shepherd (8) and MINY skipper Kieron Pollard (6) failed to impress.
Rashid’s knock, which came a strike rate of 183.33, included 4 fours and 4 sixes.