Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan, who is representing Sydney Thunder in the ongoing Big Bash League (PPL) 15, broke former captain Shahid Afridi’s T20 cricket record during Monday’s match against Brisbane Heat at Manuka Oval.
Shadab produced a match-winning spell of 4 for 24 in his four overs and surpassed Afridi to become the fifth highest wicket-taker in T20 cricket for Pakistan.
Afridi has taken 347 wickets in 329 T20 matches, Shadab currently has 351 wickets in 325 matches at an economy rate of 7.58.
Left-arm pacer Wahab Riaz currently leads Pakistan’s T20I wickets tally with 413 wickets in 348 matches, while Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan has taken the most wickets in the format with 685 wickets in 504 matches.
Pakistani bowlers who took most wickets in T20 cricket:
- Wahab Riaz – 413 wickets
- Mohammad Amir – 409 wickets
- Sohail Tanveer – 389 wickets
- Imad Wasim – 377 wickets
- Shatab Khan – 351 wickets
- Shahid Afridi – 347 wickets
Shadab’s performance helped Sydney Thunder claim their first win of BBL 15, beating Brisbane Heat by 34 runs.
Batting first, Thunder got off to a strong start as openers Sam Konstas and Matthew Gilks put on a century partnership to post a match total of 193-4 in 20 overs.
Konstas scored 63 off 45 balls including 8 fours while Gilks scored a fluent 76 off 48 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Sam Billings scored 25 off 11 balls with 2 fours and 2 sixes. However, captain David Warner fell cheaply for 7 runs.
For Brisbane Heat, Shaheen Afridi returned 1/35 in four overs. Jack Wildermuth took 2 wickets and Matthew Kuhneman took one wicket.
In reply, the Heat were restricted to 159-6, with none of their batsmen reaching half-centuries, largely due to Shadab’s brilliant leg-spin.
He took the key wickets of Colin Munro (18), Jack Wildermuth (14), and Matt Renshaw (43) and dismantled the top order.
Hugh Weibgen scored 30 off 26 balls and Max Bryant 25 off 18 balls, but the rest of the team failed to provide resistance.
Shadab finished as a man of the match with figures of 4/24, while Daniel Sams bagged two wickets to ensure a comprehensive win for Sydney Thunder.