Rashid Khan, Oval Invincibles’ star all-rounder had a mixed outing in The Hundred match against Birmingham Phoenix, giving one of the most exciting performances of his career.
However, his bowling numbers were far from his usual standards, Rashid made up for it with an mindblowing cameo with the bat and a sensational effort in the field.
With the ball, Rashid had an unusually expensive day. He conceded 59 runs off his 20 deliveries without picking up a wicket. This marked not only the most expensive spell in the history of The Hundred but also the costliest in his entire T20 career — as The Hundred is considered a T20 format for statistical purposes. Rashid struggled to find his rhythm, and Phoenix’s batters, particularly Liam Livingstone, took full advantage.
However, Rashid’s performance with the bat offered a glimpse of his versatility and fighting spirit. Coming in during the final stretch of the Invincibles’ innings, he smashed 16 runs off just nine balls. His short but impactful stay at the crease included two towering sixes, one of which was a moment of sheer brilliance — his trademark ‘Snake Shot’.
Facing Tim Southee on the 90th ball of the innings, Rashid had already shuffled across the crease. Southee attempted a wide yorker, but Rashid bent low and used his strong wrists to slap the ball horizontally over deep square leg. The result? A stunning 56-metre six that left fans in awe and sent social media buzzing.
The shot is one Rashid has worked on for a long time and named himself.
“I call it the Snake Shot,” he revealed during IPL 2022. “When a snake bites someone it springs back. When the ball is too full, I can’t finish the shot completely. My body position doesn’t allow me to finish the shot. If I try to do that, I can’t generate the power. So I have worked on it a lot and strengthened my wrists for it,” he added.
If that wasn’t enough, Rashid showed his class in the field as well. During Birmingham Phoenix’s chase of 181, Joe Clarke sliced a drive towards deep point. Rashid sprinted in from deep cover and despite the distance, he executed a perfect forward slide, managing to get his hands just underneath the ball to complete a stunning low catch.
Despite his all-round efforts, Oval Invincibles couldn’t hold off the Phoenix. Liam Livingstone remained unbeaten with a match-winning 69 off just 27 balls, which included a devastating assault on Rashid himself — taking 26 runs off just five balls in one passage of play. Rashid’s lengths and speeds weren’t quite right on the day, and it showed in the final outcome.
Still, the Afghan spinner proved once again why he remains one of the most dynamic and valuable players in the game. With bat, ball, or in the field, Rashid Khan continues to be a spectacle — and his ‘Snake Shot’ just added another chapter to his highlight reel.
