A scary moment shocked everyone during the Big Bash League 2025-26 Qualifier at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Tuesday, January 20, when Perth Scorchers opening batsman Aaron Hardie was hit hard by a fierce shot from his batting partner Finn Allen.
Aaron Hardie injured by strong hit from teammate Finn Allen during Big Bash League 2025-26 qualifier
The incident came to light in the fifth over when Sydney Sixers fast bowler Ben Dwarshuis bowled a full ball outside the off stump to Finn Allen during the ongoing BBL 2025-26 in Perth. Allen went at the ball hard and slammed it straight on the ground.
The shot was hit with so much force that Aaron Hardy, standing at the non-striker’s end, did not have time to react. Before he could move out of the way, the ball hit Hardy directly. He tried to save himself by raising his hands, but the bullet was too fast.
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Hardy was seen in pain immediately after suffering the blow. At first it seemed that the ball had hit his foot, but later the cameras revealed that it may have caused pain on the tips of his fingers as well. The Australian all-rounder looked clearly uncomfortable and took time to recover.
Thankfully, Aaron Hardy escaped major injury, but that moment scarred everyone, including Dwarshuis. The Perth Scorchers opener continued his batting as Allen hit the Sixers bowler for a four.
Finn Allen hits this ball straight towards non-striker Aaron Hardie #bbl15 pic.twitter.com/vynm6gLB8q
– KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) 20 January 2026
Hardy couldn’t move out of the way #bbl15 pic.twitter.com/ntn5GeeVps
– 7cricket (@7cricket) 20 January 2026
Finn Allen sets BBL record, but Ben Dwarshuis has the last laugh
Meanwhile, Allen has been in sensational form with the bat in the ongoing Big Bash League season, but he failed to play big innings in the qualifiers. However, the New Zealander managed to break Mitch Owen’s record of most sixes in a BBL season (36).
Now, Allen has become the player to hit the most sixes in a single edition of BBL with 37 sixes. However, Dwarshuis was bowled out for 37 runs in the last overs after bowling some costly overs. Soon after achieving the feat, the Kiwi star was bowled out by the Sixers pacer in Perth.
Dwarshuis bowled a short ball which went wide of Allen. The batsman tried to hit the ball hard across the field, but his legs did not move properly and he could not hit the ball clearly. The ball took a thick edge under Allen’s bat and rolled back onto the stumps.
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As soon as the stumps were blown, Allen had to return to the pavilion after scoring 49 runs with the help of 2 fours and 4 sixes in 30 balls in the ongoing Big Bash League 2025-26 Qualifier in Perth. Due to his wicket, Scorchers’ batting collapsed badly and three wickets fell for 20 runs.
Confused Aaron Hardy paid the price as Mitchell Starc’s clever ball sent him back after a review play
After the blow, Aaron Hardy was not comfortable and Mitchell Starc bowled a clever ball to dismiss the opener. Starc bowled a slow short ball outside the off stump. Hardy looked confused and could not decide whether to play the shot or leave the ball.
Ultimately, he played a weak pull shot. The ball touched the bottom edge of Hardy’s bat and went into the air and Sixers wicketkeeper Josh Philippe dived forward and took a clean catch. Hardy asked for a review, but UltraEdge showed clear noise right off the bat. After wasting the review, Hardy returned to the dugout after scoring 17 runs in 19 balls.
