Is Hitting the Ball Twice with the Bat Out? In a highly unusual moment during the Ranji Trophy Plate League match in Surat, Manipur’s Lamabam Singh was adjudged out for “hitting the ball twice”, one of the rarest dismissals in cricket. This incident revived debates around the question: Is hitting the ball twice with the bat out?
A Rare Dismissal Unfolds in the Manipur vs Meghalaya Clash
The dismissal of Lamabam Singh was a bit bizarre. After he had played the delivery from Meghalaya’s Aryan Bora, the ball started to roll back to the stumps. To prevent the ball from hitting the wicket, the batter ended up hitting it for the second time with his bat.
Eyewitnesses told that the second strike was indeed meant to stop the ball from crashing into the stumps, a legitimate act under the Laws of Cricket. Yet, the umpire gave him out, and neither the batter nor the fielding side challenged the on-field decision.
Umpire’s Call: Why Lamabam Was Declared Out
Venue officials said Lamabam “could have used his pad” to deflect the ball but instead opted to use his bat. The moment Meghalaya appealed, umpire Dharmesh Bhardwaj upheld it as out. The batter walked off immediately.
This raised curiosity among fans in search of clarity on Is hitting the ball twice with the bat out? According to the MCC Laws, it all depends on intention.
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Understanding Law 34: When Is Hitting the Ball Twice Illegal?
According to Clause 34.1.1 of the MCC Laws, a batsman will be considered “hit the ball twice” if:
The ball is in play.
If it has touched any part of the bat or body,
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And the batter wilfully strikes it again with the bat or the body (excluding a hand not holding the bat),
Before a fielder touches the ball.
However, the law makes one exception:
A batter is allowed to hit the ball for a second time provided it is done solely for the protection of the wicket.
In Lamabam’s case, there was confusion as to whether the second strike was clearly protective; yet, he did not argue it.
A Dismissal Witnessed Only a Few Times in the History of Ranji Trophy
The incident is the first “hit the ball twice” dismissal in the Ranji Trophy since 2005–06, when Jammu & Kashmir captain Dhruv Mahajan fell similarly against Jharkhand.
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Before that, only three players had suffered the same fate:
K Bavanna (Andhra, 1963-64)
Shahid Parvez (J&K, 1986-87)
Anand George (Tamil Nadu, 1998-99)
Lamabam is only the fifth man in Ranji history to be dismissed this way, giving an idea about how rare the situation is.
Impact of the Game: Manipur Collapse after Unusual Dismissal Lamabam’s 20-ball duck was part of Manipur’s lower-order failure, which led to the team conceding an 88-run lead to Meghalaya. Chasing qualification, Manipur will be hoping to fight for a draw on Friday. Even one point would ensure their top-two finish and a place in the Plate final.
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