T20 match between Auckland and Central Districts sets new sixes world record

Auckland’s Colin de Grandhomme has a career strike rate of 169.26 in T20 cricket

A new world record of 31 sixes in a single Twenty20 match was created at Eden Park on Sunday. Auckland was playing against Central Districts in the Georgie Pie Super Smash, New Zealand’s domestic T20 tournament.

The previous record was of 30 sixes in a T20 match, which was achieved twice. A 2010 IPL match at Chidambaram Stadium between Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals saw 30 sixes and so did an Ireland vs Netherlands World T20 match at Sylhet in 2014.

In the match at Eden Park, Auckland’s openers Jeet Raval and Brad Chopra both hit four sixes together. Later, Colin Munro came out and smashed eight sixes. Colin de Grandhomme, who has a career strike rate of 169.26 and is said to be the most destructive batsman in T20 cricket, joined Munro and the pair added 133 from only 59 balls.

Of the total 17 sixes hit by Auckland players, Grandhomme had five against his name. The partnership betwwen Munro and Grandhomme helped Auckland set a target of 218 for Central Districts.

Central Districts in their innings fell three sixes short of what Auckland had hit. However, the total number of sixes smashed in the match went up to 31 and thus broke the earlier record of 30.

In Districts’ innings, their number three batsman Will Young hit seven sixes and scored 96 runs from just 50 balls. Indika Senarathne and Tom Bruce managed three sixes each while fast bowler Adam Milne hit one over the rope. That wasn’t enough however, as Central District lost the match by 11 runs and Auckland got their first win of the tournament.

The day was clearly not good for bowlers. Seamer Andrew Mathieson of Central Districts conceded 70 runs from his four overs. Mathieson had made his international debut this year against England, but his spell was not only the most expensive four-overs in New Zealand but also the second-most expensive one in the history of this format of cricket.

Previously in 2011, Pakistani player Sarmad Anwar had conceded 81 runs in four overs and in 2012, West Indian Anthony Martin’s four overs had cost him 70 runs. They were playing for Sialkot Stallions and Leeward Islands respectively.