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Cricket is known for its biggest surprises. Rarer and more bizarre incidents carved their stamp in the game, such as that of the 2024 Bangladesh Premier League. One such extraordinary event occurred when one of the most talented Australian batsmen during the debut match of this league, Tom O’Connell, had to witness an unlucky record that no batsman wants.
The Match Setup: Khulna Tigers vs. Chittagong Kings
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The BPL match held on December 31, 2024, saw a marquee contest between the Khulna Tigers and the Chittagong Kings. In the first innings, Khulna Tigers came out to bat in the match setting up a strong target of 204 runs after some brilliant attacking throws from William Bosisto and Mahidul Islam Ankon. Bosisto put up an unbeaten 75 off 50 balls, including 8 fours and 3 sixes, while Ankon showered fireworks with 59 not out off just 22 balls, hitting 6 sixes and a four.
Chittagong Kings, in response, could muster only 166 runs, losing by 37 runs. Even though Shamim Hussain played a brilliant knock of 78 runs off 38 balls (7 fours and 5 sixes), the team failed miserably as six batsmen could not reach double figures. Abu Haider was the star with the ball, taking 4 wickets for 44 runs in 3.4 overs, while Mohammad Nawaz took 2 wickets.
Tom O’Connell’s Unbelievable Debut in BPL
The victory for the Tigers was convincing, but the limelight was stolen by an unprecedented series of events involving Tom O’Connell. The Australian batsman suffered an unimaginable debut, getting dismissed twice in the same match under extraordinary circumstances.
The First Dismissal: Timed Out in BPL
Haider Ali was given out on the first ball of the 7th over of Chittagong Kings. O’Connell came in but was late for the crease. The fielding team, Khulna Tigers, quickly appealed for a “timed out” dismissal, which rarely happens when a batsman does not reach the field in time. The field umpire had no option but to give him out, and that was not a good beginning to his career.
A Rare Reprieve
As O’Connell walked back to the pavilion, the Khulna Tigers captain Mehdi Hasan Miraz showed exemplary sportsmanship. He withdrew the appeal and signaled O’Connell to return to the crease, offering him another chance to make his mark.
The Second Dismissal: Out First Ball
But it wasn’t meant to be. Facing the second ball of the same over—the match’s first delivery, O’Connell was caught out by none other than the Tigers’ skipper, Mehdi Hasan Miraz, off Mohammad Nawaz’s bowling. O’Connell went from having to face two balls in the span of one delivery to getting out twice in two balls—the first due to time out and then being caught off the first ball of his delivery.
A Record Like No Other in BPL
O’Connell’s first game was transformed into a bad luck story, as he emerged as a batsman to get dismissed twice in an innings without making even a single run. The events unfolded both puzzling and for the first time ever in the record books of cricket in an unwelcome yet unforgettable manner.
Cricket’s Unpredictable Nature
As far as Tom O’Connell goes, this game is a classic reminder of cricket. Cricket: the game that is all luck, skill, and timing – yet could not be farther from the expectation. While it might haunt this debut for Tom O’Connell, it surely will go into the annals of BPL history as one of the strangest stories.
The game between Khulna Tigers and Chittagong Kings will be remembered not only for the emphatic win of the Tigers but also for the peculiar and rare double dismissal of Tom O’Connell. Cricket fans around the world witnessed a moment that epitomized the drama, unpredictability, and occasional heartbreak of the sport. For O’Connell, it’s a debut he’d likely want to forget—but one the cricketing world will remember for years to come.
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