Perth Scorchers all-rounder Aaron Hardie was on the receiving end of a hilarious incident during the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) 2024-25 match against Sydney Thunder. The 33rd game of the tournament between the teams takes place on Monday (January 13) at the Sydney Showdown Stadium in Sydney.
Aaron Hardie, trying to save the boundary, fell over the fence. It happened during the last ball of the 15th over when Cooper Connolly bowled to Sydney Thunder opening batsman Sam Konstas, who was keeping his side in the hunt.
Copper Connolly sent a delivery that Sam Konstas opted for a reverse slide. He had a decent connection to get past players on the right offside. Aaron Hardie, who was at short third, gave the chase but the ball had enough leg to beat him to the fence.
Aaron Hardie kept running after the ball and couldn't stop. As a result, he fell over the fence and appeared to injure himself as he clung to the railing for a few seconds before returning to the field. He then returned to court position as he gave a green signal to his teammate about his pain.
Caution – Aaron Hardie falls over the fence trying to save the boundary
Here is the video:
He fell over the fence 🫣
Fortunately, Aaron Hardie is fine here!@KFCAustralia #BucketMoment #BBL14 pic.twitter.com/ZDt7nQSaNW
– KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 13, 2025
Sydney Thunder posted a total of 158 runs as Sam Konstas and Tom Andrews shone with the bat
Coming into the match, Sydney Thunder did not have a great outing with the bat. Opening batsman Sam Konstas kept his team in the game as he slammed a magnificent half-century and continued to score runs for the team even as wickets continued to fall at the other end. The Perth Scorchers bowlers continued to pick wickets at regular intervals and left the opposition at 75/5.
Sam Konstas hit his second Big Bash League half-century and finished with an innings of 53 runs from 42 balls. He batted at a strike rate of around 127 and also hit 5 fours and 2 sixes in his innings. But after he got out, it looked like Sydney Thunder would go out early.
However, Tom Andrews came up with a brutal effort with the bat in the end. He played an unbeaten 37-run cameo from 13 balls with the help of three boundaries and three sixes. He batted at a strike rate of around 285 and put the opposition bowlers under massive pressure.
Perth Scorchers lose early wickets in chase, Aaron Hardie hits 22 runs from 17 balls
He received valiant support from Chris Green (20*) in the end as Sydney Thunder finished with a struggling total of 158 runs. For Perth Scorchers, Lance Morris picked three wickets while the rest of the bowlers also contributed.
In the chase, Perth Scorchers lost early wickets and were left reeling at 10/2 with both openers Sam Fanning and Finn Allen back in the hut. Aaron Hardie looked in solid touch with the bat but couldn't build on the start he got as he was back in the hut on 22 runs from 17 balls as the side lost their third wicket for 40 runs.