IPL 2023 | Ayush Badoni’s score-levelling Six Becomes Hit Wicket, Adds Drama in LSG vs RCB Thriller
Badoni reacts after his hit-wicket (IPLT20.COM)
Ayush Badoni played a supporting role in Lucknow Super Giants’ monumental run-chase against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Chasing an uphill 213 in match number 15 of the IPL 2023 season, the Giants overcame their task off the final ball of the match with just one wicket in hand.
LSG players celebrate close win over RCB
Interestingly, the match could have been concluded in the penultimate over itself, considering Badoni scooped a six off Wayne Parnell behind the wicket. However, the youngster had his bat crash onto stumps at the same instant, thus turning a score-levelling six into an unfortunate hit-wicket for him.
Badoni hit-wicket adds more drama in high-scoring thriller
Chasing 213, the LSG top-order crumbled their way to 23-3 in their first four overs. Middle-order batters Nicholas Pooran and Marcus Stoinis launched a counterattacking assault thereafter, as both scored over 60 at blazing strike-rates.
Young Ayush Badoni arrived at the crease at 105-5 and formed a rapid 84-run stand with Pooran. After the latter’s dismissal, Badoni took the run-scoring onus for the next couple of overs. In the penultimate over, he scooped Wayne Parnell for a six behind the wicket, only for his bat to crash onto the stumps to send him packing back to the pavilion.
While his hit-wicket dismissal added more drama to the high-scoring thriller by extending the game till the last ball, the Super Giants eventually won the contest with a wicket in hand. Badoni’s 24-ball 30 proved to be one of the decisive factors of the game as LSG further enhanced their top spot on the IPL 2023 points table.
They will now face the Punjab Kings in their next tournament fixture, set to be played on April 15.
 "Aakash Saini")