Published: Dec 20, 2018, 03:56 PM (IST)
Edited: Dec 20, 2018, 03:56 PM (IST)
Afghanistan international Mujeeb ur Rahman, who learned to bowl off Youtube, set a new T20 record – with the bat – during the opening day of the Big Bash League 2018-19.
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Coming in to bat at No.11 for Brisbane Heat against defending champions Adelaide Strikers, Rahman scored 27 off 22 balls, thus surpassing Sri Lanka’s Alankara Silva’s tally of 26* in Sri Lanka’s domestic T20 competition in 2015-16 at No.11.
Rahman came in to bat with Brisbane at 101/9 in 15 overs. Rahman’s effort saw his team finish at 146 as he was dismissed with two balls remaining in the innings. Rahman was rather enterprising during his knock attempting a whole array of sweeps and reverse sweeps.
Mujeeb ur Rahman (27 runs) now holds the record of the highest individual score by a No.11 in Twenty20 format.
Previous: 26* by Alankara Silva in Sri Lanka domestic T20 in 2015/16. #BBL08 #BHvAS
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) December 19, 2018
However, Brisbane lost to Adelaide with Adelaide opener Alex Carey smashing 70 off 46 balls to lead his team to a five-wicket win with five balls remaining.
How good was watching @rashidkhan_19 & @Mujeeb_R88 go head-to-head tonight? And what about that first-ball reverse sweep attempt from Mujeeb! #BBL08 | @KFCAustralia pic.twitter.com/GhovIfrvPx
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 19, 2018
But, Rahman was equally good with the ball as well giving away just 26 runs in his four overs. James Pattinson claimed 2/23 for Brisbane. For Adelaide, Rahman’s Afghanistan teammate was the star of the day claiming 3/19 in his four overs.
Another interesting bit that happened on the opening day of the the BBL 2018 when the third umpire presumably pushed the wrong button on a run-out call on Pattinson.
Put into bat, Adelaide had already reduced Brisbane to 92 for 6 with Jimmy Peirson and Pattinson batting.
