Darius Visser broke the men’s T20I record for most runs in an over during Samoa’s match against Vanuatu in the T20 World Cup Qualifier.
Samoa’s Darius Visser etched his name in cricket history on Tuesday by breaking the men’s T20I record for most runs scored in a single over during a match against Vanuatu in the T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific Region Qualifier, held in Apia. The 28-year-old batter finished with a remarkable 132 runs off just 62 balls in only his third T20I appearance.
Visser’s record-breaking feat came in the 15th over of Samoa’s innings when he smashed six sixes in a 39-run over bowled by Vanuatu’s Nalin Nipiko. This achievement marked the fourth instance of a batter hitting six sixes in an over in men’s T20Is and the first time a team scored more than 36 runs in a single over.
The over began with Visser sending the first three deliveries over the deep midwicket boundary. Nipiko then delivered a front-foot no-ball, giving Visser a free hit, which he dispatched for another six over the leg side. The fifth ball was a dot, as Visser’s straight hit struck the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Nipiko overstepped again, bowling another no-ball for height, which Visser pulled over fine leg for six. The final delivery, a low full toss outside off stump, was flicked over deep square leg, capping the record-setting 39-run over.
Previously, the record for the most runs in an over in men’s T20Is stood at 36, achieved in five instances. The first to do so was India’s Yuvraj Singh, who hit six sixes off England’s Stuart Broad in the 2007 T20 World Cup. This feat was later matched by West Indies’ Kieron Pollard against Sri Lanka in 2021, and Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee earlier this year.
ALSO READ | Nasser Hussain Backs Ollie Pope’s England Test Captaincy Ahead of Sri Lanka Series and the Ashes
Visser became the first Samoa batter to score a T20I century, hitting 14 sixes—the fifth-highest in a men’s T20I innings. His score of 132 accounted for 75.86% of Samoa’s total of 174, surpassing the previous record of 75.1% held by Australia’s Aaron Finch. The next highest score for Samoa in the match was 16 by their captain, Caleb Jasmat.
According to a report in the St George & Sutherland Leader, Visser, who grew up playing in Sydney, was initially a fast bowler before injuries and stress fractures prompted him to switch to leg spin and focus on batting. Visser also contributed with the ball, picking up a wicket as Samoa restricted Vanuatu to 164 for 9, securing a ten-run victory.
Last Updated on September 20, 2024
