Maharashtra skipper and opener Ruturaj Gaikwad has smashed seven sixes in an over while featuring in a quarter-final match against Uttar Pardesh in Vijay Hazare Trophy.
However, this has not happened for the first time in List-A Cricket as Wellington’s Bert Vance yielded 77 runs in an over in a first-class match against Canterbury on the 20th of February in 1990. Canterbury required 95 to win in two overs, and to encourage them to go after the target and lose wickets, Vance bowled a 22-ball over, including 17 no-balls.
Concerning the Uttar Pardesh vs Maharashtra match, the high-scoring over was the second last of the inning, starting with 272 for five and ending with 315 for 5. According to ESPN Cricinfo,
“The total of 43 runs from the over also made it to the record books, matching the combined effort of Brett Hampton and Joe Carter, off Willem Ludick, for Northern Districts against Central Districts in a Ford Trophy game in 2018.”
Notably, the match taking place at Ahmedabad saw left-arm spinner Shiva Singh in action, who ended up conceding 43 runs unluckily with a no-ball. ESPN Cricinfo beautifully explains,
The first ball, a low full toss, was smoked over wide long-on. The second was in the arc and was smashed straight down to the ground. The third was shorter, and Gaikwad swung it over the rope at a deep square leg. Shiva changed his line for the fourth ball and went outside off stump, but the length was perfect for Gaikwad to hit over long-off.
The fifth went roughly in the same direction and was a no-ball to boot, and the free hit went over long-on. That was the sixth six in five legal deliveries, and Gaikwad got to his double-century with that. The last ball, Shiva finally going over the wicket, was again in the arc on the middle stump and went over deep midwicket again.
6⃣,6⃣,6⃣,6⃣,6⃣nb,6⃣,6⃣
Ruturaj Gaikwad smashes 4⃣3⃣ runs in one over! ??
Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/cIJsS7QVxK…#MAHvUP | #VijayHazareTrophy | #QF2 | @mastercardindia pic.twitter.com/j0CvsWZeES
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) November 28, 2022
As far as his overall performances are concerned, he scored 220 not out of 159 balls. His innings included 16 sixes and ten fours. In contrast, the unlucky bowler finished 0-88. It was a one-army show for Gaikwad, as the rest of the batters amassed 96 runs from 142 balls.
