SYDNEY: Young Pakistan pace bowler Mohammad Hasnain announced his arrival to the Big Bash League with a blistering show at the Sydney Showground Stadium on Sunday, helping his team Sydney Thunder beat Adelaide Strikers by 28 runs.

In his four overs, the 21-year-old registered figures of 3-20, taking all three wickets in his first over on debut.

Coming in to bowl in the third over — after Thunder posted 172-7 for the Strikers to chase — Hasnain drew first blood only on the second ball.

The right-armer made opener Matthew Short flick a well-directed delivery off his pads only to find Daniel Sams’ safe hands at deep square-leg.

The very next delivery was even better as it swung and seamed back to trap the left-handed Jake Weatherald leg-before, with the batter committed to play a cover drive.

Hasnain missed the hat-trick, but got another wicket on the penultimate ball of the over, forcing Jonathan Wells to miscue a pull shot into the hands of Ben Cutting, who was perfectly placed at short midwicket.

The Hyderabad-born pacer followed it up with a dot ball, making his debut over at the BBL a triple-wicket maiden.

The Strikers failed to manage to recover after the early damage caused by Hasnain and were all out for 144 by the start of the last over.

England pacer Saqib Mehmood and Australian spinner Jason Sangha also took two wickets each for the winners.

Earlier, Thunder openers Matt­hew Gikes (93 off 57) and Ben Cut­ting (34 off 25) led them to a dec­ent total. Thunder are placed third in the BBL table with 19 points.

Pacer Haris Rauf (Melbourne Stars), all-rounder Shadab Khan (Sydney Sixers) and opening batter Fakhar Zaman are the notable Pakistani players featuring in the ongoing edition of Australian T20 league.

Emerging players — unearthed by Pakistan Super League franchise Lahore Qalandars — Syed Faridoun and Ahmed Daniyal are also part of the Melbourne Stars roster.

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2022