Sydney, Dec 09:Rashid Khan had Melbourne Renegades under a spell as Adelaide Strikers exacted revenge for their defeat two days ago, to emphatically win their home opener. Having lost a nerve-jangler by two runs in Melbourne on Tuesday, the Strikers appeared in trouble of dropping another match to last season’s wooden spooners after posting a modest total. But Rashid was at his brilliant best with the ball to lead a disciplined Strikers attack, as they defended with aplomb in a contest featuring bowling-dominant teams.Rashid turns the match aroundGood things tend to happen for Strikers when Rashid has the ball, even when he’s not taking wickets. With Renegades cruising in the chase after posting 36 runs from the four-over powerplay through impressive opening pair Sam Harper and Mackenzie Harvey, Rashid came on in the fifth over in a desperate bid to get Strikers back into the match.Immediately, there was an air of expectation and Renegades batted cautiously as if merely trying to survive Rashid’s brilliance. On his fifth ball he had Harvey trapped in front but the huge appeal was turned down only for chaos to then ensue. Non-striker Harper was seemingly in a trance, perhaps bewildered why Rashid’s hearty appeal was not given, and ball watched instead of taking an easy leg bye on offer. The batters were stuck at the same end leaving Harvey run out in another instance where Rashid’s effect on the contest was seismic. He did not return until the ninth over, making another instant impact, this time by claiming the wicket of James Seymour to tilt the momentum. The pumped-up Strikers stymied the runs and limited boundaries to strangle Renegades. Used in one-over bursts by stand-in skipper Peter Siddle, Rashid dismissed Jonathan Merlo in the 13th over to tighten Strikers’ grip on the contest.
