Six, six, six, six, six (no ball), six, six.
That’s what Ruturaj Gaikwad did to left-arm spinner Shiva Singh in the Vijay Hazare Trophy quarter-final clash between Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh at the Motera B ground in Ahmedabad on Monday.
Opener Gaikwad hammered 43 off that penultimate over in Maharashtra’s innings which not just earned him a double century, but also took him to the record books as his unbeaten 220 off 159 balls laid the platform for his team’s 58- run win over Uttar Pradesh.
Those 43 runs smashed by Gaikwad in that over matched the combined efforts of Brett Hampton (23) and Joe Carter (18) off medium-pacer Willem Ludick’s bowling, for Northern Districts against Central Districts in a Ford Trophy game back in Hamilton in 2018.
According to the ICC website, the record for the most number of sixes in an over in all forms of cricket is held by former New Zealand wicketkeeper and captain Lee Germon, who had struck eight sixes in an over which included 17 no-balls and cost 77 runs, in a first-class game during the 1989–90 season.
Maharashtra, put in to bat, were 272 for 5 after 48 overs. The first ball from the left-arm spinner in the 49th over was a low full toss, which Gaikwad hit over wide longon. The second was again in his arc, and he smashed straight down the ground.
The third was a tad shorter, and Gaikwad cleared deep square-leg. Shiva then changed his line for the fourth ball and pitched it outside offstump, but Gaikwad was equal to the task to clear long-off.
The penultimate ball too was right in his zone and to make matters worse for the spinner, it turned out to be a no-ball.
After that fetched Gaikwad seven runs, the following free hit went over long-on. It was already 37 in the over with still one legitimate delivery remaining.
Gaikwad, having brought up his double-century, finished the over with yet another six over deep mid-wicket.
Brief scores: Maharashtra 330/5 in 50 ovs (R. Gaikwad 220 n.o.). Uttar Pradesh 272 in 47.4 ovs (A. Juyal 159; R. Hangargekar 5/53). Maharashtra won by 58 runs.
