Marnus Labuschagne made his first appearance in the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) 2023-24 for Brisbane Heat after fulfilling his national duties in the Test series against Pakistan. Labuschagne had a chance to score a half-century but breaking a basic cricket rule led to his wicket in the 11th over of his innings.
On the last ball of the 10th over, Labuschagne took a single against Hamish McKenzie. The over was followed by a drinks break and Labuschagne seemed to forget that he was supposed to take the strike. Instead, wicketkeeper-batter Sam Billings took the strike. It went unnoticed by on-field umpires David Taylor and Greg Davidson too.
After the drinks break, Billings took the strike and took a single against Lance Morris. On the next delivery, Labuschagne edged one to wicketkeeper Josh Inglis and lost his wicket. Earlier in the 10th over, Labuschagne was dropped by Zak Crawley. The 29-year-old departed after scoring 45 runs from 33 balls including seven fours.
The commentators were left surprised after Labuschagne lost his wicket as one of them said, “He should have been facing the first delivery. How did that happen?”
Billings went on to score After Labuschagne's wicket, Brisbane Heat lost another. Paul Walter got bowled by Ashton Agar. He managed to score just two runs from nine balls. In the 15th over, Billings decided to attack and hit Agar for a maximum. Michael Neser went after Morris and hit him for three fours in a row.
Billings and Neser made full use of the momentum gained in the slog overs. In the penultimate over, Jhye Richardson conceded 14 runs. But Richardson managed to get the wicket of Billings in the first power surge over. Billings got bowled for a 21-ball 37 featuring two fours and as many sixes.
In the final over, Neser hit Jason Behrendorff for a maximum to reach his half-century from just 26 balls. He hit two more sixes in the final over to take Brisbane Heat's score to 191/6. The all-rounder remained unbeaten for 64 off 30 balls including seven fours and three sixes.
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