JP Duminy, the South Africa and Knights batsman, hit five sixes in seven balls against Eddie Leie, the Cape Cobras legspinner, on his way to scoring 37 runs in a single over, the second-most in List A cricket.
The over went for 6-6-6-6-2-5nb-6.
Alauddin Babu, the Bangladeshi bowler, holds the unwanted record for conceding 39 in a one-day match in Dhaka in 2013, when Elton Chigumbura, the Zimbabwe batsman, took him to the cleaners. Babu’s over read 5nb-wd-6-4-6-4-6-wd-6.
Duminy’s feat took place during a One-Day Cup match between Knights and Cape Cobras in Newlands on Wednesday (January 17).
With Knights needing 32 to win in four overs but a bonus point for the taking if they got there quicker, Duminy slammed the first four balls for sixes. Leie ensured the fifth delivery only went for two, but what should have been the final ball of the over was hit for four and called a no-ball. Duminy then made sure the last ball went for six to seal an eight-wicket win.
Leie’s figures of 1 for 90 in seven overs were the worst in Knights history, surpassing the 0 for 88 by Kagiso Rabada for Lions against Cape Cobras in Paarl in 2014-15.
“It is not every day you get the opportunity so, of course I was trying to go for the six sixes in an over,” said Duminy, who finished unbeaten on 70 off just 37 balls. “I initially thought it was all about the bonus point. I looked up at the scoreboard and we needed 35 with four overs still to go to get the bonus point, so I just decided to take Eddie on.
“I was striking the ball really cleanly, and when the first two went for six, I figured I might as well give it a full go now because regardless whether I get out we would still have secured the bonus point. It was enjoyable.”
Duminy went past the South African record of 36 runs in an over, set by Herschelle Gibbs when he hit six sixes in a 2007 World Cup match against the Netherlands.
With the Indian Premier League auction set to take place next week on January 27 and 28, Duminy’s feat might prove timely. He has played for Deccan Chargers, Mumbai Indians, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Daredevils in previous editions, but is among the 1122 players to go under the hammer this time with his base price set at Rs. 1 crore.