Pollard third batsman ever to hit SIX SIXES in an international over

West Indian Kieron Pollard BECOMES the third batsman ever to hit SIX SIXES in an over in an international… minutes after his team’s batting had been decimated by a Sri Lankan bowler’s HAT-TRICK!

  • Kieron Pollard led West Indies to victory over Sri Lanka in their opening T20 tie
  • Pollard smashed Sri Lanka leg spinner Akila Dananjaya for six sixes in one over
  • The over before Pollard’s introduction, Dananjaya had claimed a hat-trick
  • Pollard joins Herschelle Gibbs and Yuvraj Singh as the only cricketers to hit six sixes in an over during an international encounter

March 3, 2021 will live long in the memory of Kieron Pollard as he joined an exclusive club within international cricket.

The West Indies limited-overs captain hit six sixes in an over to guide his side to a comprehensive four-wicket win against Sri Lanka in the opener of their three-match T20 series.

In achieving the feat he became just the third cricketer to ever smash six maximums in an international over.

Kieran Pollard ripped through Sri Lanka’s attack by hitting six sixes in one over on Wednesday

Pollard watches on as his one of his shots soars over the ropes during the West Indies’ victory

Sri Lanka leg spinner Akila Dananjaya was the unfortunate bowler bludgeoned by Pollard

Sri Lanka leg spinner Akila Dananjaya was the unfortunate recipient of Pollard’s destructive batting as he got blasted around the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Osbourne, Antigua during the sixth over of the match.

It changed the course of the encounter as Dananjaya had claimed a hat-trick in his previous over to sear through the Windies batting. He became only the 15th player and the fourth Sri Lankan to take a T20 international hat-trick when he dismissed Evin Lewis (28), Chris Gayle and Nicholas Pooran (both zero) with consecutive deliveries in the fourth over. The 27-year-old was also hit for a seventh consecutive six by Jason Holder in his next over and had two catches dropped from his bowling as the tourists fell 1-0 down in the series.  

Pollard was eventually trapped leg-before-wicket to Hasaranga de Silva in the following over to finish with 38 from just 11 deliveries. His barrage lifted the West Indies from 62-4 on the dismissal of Lendl Simmons to 92-4 and had the home side coasting to victory as they chased Sri Lanka’s 131 total – which they did in just 13.1 overs.

‘I felt I could hit six sixes after the third one,’ said Pollard post-match, who will play for Welsh Fire in this summer’s inaugural Hundred competition.

The over before he was smacked for 36 runs, Dananjaya has taken a hat-trick of wickets

‘I felt after hitting a couple of sixes, I understood how the pitch plays, it was important to be positive and play your shots. Back yourselves to clear the boundary.

‘A couple of things went through my mind before the sixth ball, I thought should I go for the six or take the 30 runs in the over, he went around the wicket and bowled it onto my pads, I told myself “Wait Polly, take a chance”.

‘That’s how I have played my cricket all along, especially against the spinners.’

The 33-year-old joins former India batsman Yuvraj Singh as the only other player to hit six sixes in a T20 international over. Yuvraj was the first player to do this, doing so against England at the 2007 Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa off Stuart Broad’s bowling.

Herschelle Gibbs was the first player to ever hit six sixes in an international over though when the former South Africa batsman tore Holland apart at the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies. Gibbs remains the only player to do so in the 50-over format when he bludgeoned Daan van Bunge in St Kitts and Nevis.

Herschelle Gibbs was the first player to ever hit six sixes in an international over in March 2007

Yuvraj Singh followed later that year vs England’s Stuart Broad at the 2007 T20 World Cup

Gibbs and Yuvraj were quick to congratulate Pollard on Twitter afterwards.

‘March a popular month for hitting 6x6s. 16/3/2007 and 3/3/2021 congrats @KieronPollard55,’ wrote Gibbs.

Yuvraj echoed those sentiments by tweeting: ‘Welcome to the club @KieronPollard55 #sixsixes you beauty!!!’

Gibbs and Yuvraj both took to Twitter to congratulate Pollard on matching their historic feats


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