Herschelle Gibbs

South Africa’s Herschelle Gibbs hits 6 runs. Photo: Rebecca Naden/PA Archive/PA Images

On this day: Herschelle Gibbs hits six sixes in an over

On this day, 16 March, in 2007 Herschelle Gibbs became the first batter to hit six sixes in an over in an international match.

Herschelle Gibbs

South Africa’s Herschelle Gibbs hits 6 runs. Photo: Rebecca Naden/PA Archive/PA Images

On this day in 2007 Herschelle Gibbs became the first batter to hit six sixes in an over in an international match.

Gibbs terrorised Netherlands leg-spin bowler Daan Van Bunge; hitting him for six sixes in the 30th over of the game.

Having had a little look, Gibbs took on Bunge and hit him all over the ground, and courtesy of his aggressive batting scored 72 off just 40 deliveries.

Watch: Herschelle Gibbs hits six sixes in an over

Gibbs’ fireworks display was worth $1million to charity after a World Cup sponsor promised to donate the sum if any player hit six sixes in an over during the tournament.

“The message came out that Jacques Kallis and I could have a dip, and we probably had a bigger dip than was needed,” Gibbs said at the time. “After the fourth one, I thought it could be on. I thought about using my feet and coming down the pitch, but then I changed my mind and decided to stay in the crease. The idea was for me to have another two goes at it [the record] and luckily I didn’t miscue any of them, so it was quite nice.”

ESPN Cricinfo

Dutch skipper van Troost was at a loss as to how to stop the onslaught.

“It’s terrible to be a captain in that situation,” van Troost said. 

“For the last couple of overs I didn’t know where to put my players any more or where to bowl. I thought I’ll take the last over, someone’s got to do it.”

The Proteas eventually won the match by 221 runs.

Others to achieve the feat

Yuvraj Singh would emulate Gibbs during the 2007 T20 World Cup, but no other batter would managed to smash six sixes in an ODI over for 14 years.

Kieron Pollard has also since acheived the feat, managing it in a T20I against Sri Lanka in 2021.

The second occassion of six sixes being hit in an over came as two associates met in an ODI. Jaskaran Malhotra struck hit six sixes in the final over of USA’s innings against Papua New Guinea bowled by Gaudi Toka.