INTERVIEW: Shadab reflects on win vs. Derbyshire
Lancashire Cricket all-rounder Shadab Khan says the win against Derbyshire on Wednesday night gave the team “clarity, confidence and self-belief” ahead of the rest of the Vitality Blast.
The Pakistan international starred with bat and ball as Lightning secured a four-run win in the East Midlands. He scored 58 from 22 balls and took 3-42 from his four overs.
It was a close fought victory, but one that Shadab says will give the side a huge boost going into the final week of the competition.
“Clarity, confidence and self-belief, as a player or as a team, is boosted with these types of wins. Everyone chipped in during a pressure situation, because at one stage we were behind, but still, everyone chipped in and everyone stayed calm. So, I think that was a good thing about this game.
“We needed that type of a win to get a boost for momentum and take momentum from this game. It was good because, obviously, in that type of game when you are on the winning side, it will give you very good confidence as a team.”
Shadab was superb against the Falcons. His rapid half-century broke a longstanding record as Lancashire’s fastest in T20 history, coming off just 19 balls, pipping Jos Buttler from 2016 and Matty Hurst at the same venue last season.
The 27-year-old hit six boundaries and four huge sixes to all parts of the ground, explaining that he felt like that was his night and the pride he felt setting the record.
“In this type of games [high-scoring matches], as a batsman you want that [a fast start]. From ball one, everything was middling, so I thought ‘okay, that’s my day so I have to go harder and harder’.
“It’s a very nice feeling. I don’t know how I can describe it in a word, but it’s a very nice feeling as a batter. I knew about it [breaking the record] in the dressing room, everyone was telling me about it, but I didn’t know about it before.
“It’s a proud moment for me because we have a legend of the game play for Lancashire [Pakistan great Wasim Akram]. But this is my record and hopefully I can break my own.”
Lightning have four games remaining, starting with a trip to Trent Bridge on Friday to face Nottinghamshire, before three home games against Derbyshire, Yorkshire and Durham.
They are still in the hunt for a quarter-final spot, though the experienced Shadab stressed the importance of not looking too far ahead.
“I think we have to take it one at a time. Now we’re looking at the Friday game and hopefully we can win it from there.”
Shadab and his Lancashire teammates are next in action at Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground on Monday for the rematch against the Falcons.
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