“Like a goalie”: Shadab Khan grabs fantastic diving catch off own bowling to dismiss Aaron Hardie in BBL 12 match

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that defending champions Perth Scorchers gave away a substantial advantage in the eighth match of the ongoing 12th season of the Big Bash League against Hobart Hurricanes in Launceston tonight.

A match which was there to be won for the visitors ended up in the home team’s favour after Hurricanes successfully defended 173-run target by 8 runs. Needing 36 runs in the last five overs with six wickets in hand and a well-set Josh Inglis (62) in the middle, Perth lost a couple of wickets within three balls bowled by spinner Patrick Dooley to instantly fall on the back foot.

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All-rounder Shadab Khan and fast bowler Nathan Ellis bowling two economical overs each in the death overs further paved way for a victory for Hobart at the Aurora Stadium.

Shadab Khan grabs fantastic diving catch off own bowling to dismiss Aaron Hardie in BBL 12 match

While Khan and Ellis picked a wicket apiece, the former’s second BBL wicket came via a fantastic diving catch off his own bowling. It all happened on the third delivery of the penultimate over when Aaron Hardie (12) played a Khan delivery back to him. Wanting to flick a ball on the stumps, a struggling Hardie failed in his attempt as the ball lobbed off the leading edge towards non-striker Jhye Richardson (13).

Needing to cover quite a few feet within no time, an agile Khan successfully executed a dive to complete an athletic catch right in front of Richardson. Although FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 ended last night, Khan’s dive looked more like a goal-keeper’s save.

Opening the bowling with Joel Paris (0/40), Hobart fast bowler Riley Meredith picked a couple of crucial wickets of Adam Lyth (10) and Ashton Turner (20). Having said that, it was Dooley who registered career-best figures of 4-0-16-4 in only his third T20 to bowl his team to a victory on Monday.