Surat, November 9:Meghalaya’s Akash Choudhary produced one of the most breathtaking knocks in first-class cricket history, smashing eight consecutive sixes and registering the fastest fifty ever in the format—off just 11 balls—during the Ranji Trophy Plate Group match against Arunachal Pradesh on Sunday.
The 25-year-old right-arm seamer, known more for his bowling, came in at No. 8 with Meghalaya cruising at 576 for 6. After starting cautiously with a dot and two singles, Choudhary went berserk, launching six consecutive sixes off left-arm spinner Limar Dabi in the 126th over. With that, he joined the legendary Garry Sobers and Ravi Shastri as the only players to hit six sixes in a single over in first-class cricket.
Key Highlights:
Akash Choudhary (Meghalaya) scores fastest-ever fifty in first-class cricket (11 balls).
Smashes eight consecutive sixes, including six in one over.
Joins Garry Sobers and Ravi Shastri in the elite six-sixes club.
Fifty came in nine minutes, second-fastest in history.
Finished 50 (14)* as Meghalaya declared on 628/6.
Took three wickets in the match as well.
He wasn’t done yet. In the following over, Choudhary hammered offspinner TNR Mohith for two more back-to-back sixes to raise his half-century off just 11 balls, breaking the previous record held by Leicestershire’s Wayne White, who took 12 balls for his fifty in 2012.
In addition to being the fastest by balls faced, Choudhary’s fifty was also among the quickest by time, taking just nine minutes, second only to Clive Inman’s eight-minute 13-ball fifty in 1965.
Choudhary eventually remained unbeaten on 50 off 14 balls, as Meghalaya declared at a commanding 628 for 6. His fireworks powered Meghalaya to total domination, as Arunachal Pradesh were bundled out for 73 in their first innings. Choudhary chipped in with three wickets across both innings as Meghalaya enforced the follow-on and closed the day with Arunachal reeling at 29 for 3.
This historic performance added a new chapter to Choudhary’s growing all-round credentials. Before this match, he had scored 503 runs in 30 first-class games at an average of 14.37, including two fifties. He also has 87 first-class wickets to his name, along with consistent performances in List-A and T20 formats.
In the previous match against Bihar, Choudhary had already showcased his hitting power with an unbeaten 60 off 62 balls, smashing four sixes. But his latest knock has taken his reputation to another level—cementing his name in the record books as a true game-changer.
