Following a defeat against the league leaders in their previous match, the Perth Scorchers struggled to assert themselves in the rematch on their home turf.
Within the initial six overs, they lost three wickets, and the new batsman, Laurie Evans, faced formidable bowling attacks, including a well-executed bouncer from Spencer Johnson in the seventh over of the first innings.
In the eighth over’s fifth delivery, Johnson delivered a short-pitched ball aimed around the leg stump to the in-form Scorchers’ batsman. The renowned Perth Stadium, known for its pace and bounce, revealed its true character as the ball moved inward and sharply rose, catching Evans off guard in the crease.
Reacting late to attempt a hook shot, Evans found himself with the bat stuck beneath his chin, losing control of his bottom hand. Ultimately, the ball took the top edge of the bat and sailed over the wicketkeeper, racing towards the boundary ropes.
This bouncer. 😅
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 13, 2024
That's a ripper from Spencer Johnson, but the batsman gets the boundary! #BBL13 pic.twitter.com/YFi0B6pkAZ
While Evans may have benefited from a fortunate boundary, his composure seemed rattled by the sharp bounce off the pitch angling into his body. The left-arm pacer was secured by the Gujarat Titans for a staggering INR 10 Crores during the IPL Auction 2024, prompting the Twitterverse to express their emotions without reservation.