The explosive batter for the Joburg Super Kings, Donovan Ferreira has made SA20 history by breaking Heinrich Klaasen's record for the longest six of the tournament on January 20. In an impressive display against the Capitals, Ferreira smashed a delivery from Hardus Viljoen for an enormous 106-meter six during the 16.4th over, eclipsing Klaasen’s 105-meter record achieved earlier that day against the Sunrisers Eastern Cape.
Ferreira's performance was nothing short of spectacular, as he hit the fastest fifty in the tournament's history. His whirlwind 18-ball innings were laced with a mix of power and finesse, culminating in an unbeaten 56 off 20 balls. His inning featured seven boundaries and three sixes, playing a crucial role in the Joburg Super Kings’ swift chase of the 168-run target in just 18 overs.
Moeen Ali, also part of the same game, made headlines by hitting a 103-meter six, which remarkably sent the ball out of the stadium. These feats by the batters set social media abuzz, with fans reveling in the six-hitting spectacle presented by the trio.
Amidst this excitement, former England captain and cricket legend, Kevin Pietersen, voiced his opinion on X (formerly known as Twitter), calling for a significant change in cricket rules. He suggested that batters who hit sixes over 100 meters should be rewarded with 12 run.
"2 years I mentioned on commentary that I think a batter should get a 12 if he hits a six over 100m. That rule is on its way," Pietersen wrote on X.
Echoing a similar sentiment previously expressed by Team India captain Rohit Sharma, who had proposed that massive sixes deserve a 10-run reward.
"If a batter hits a 90m six, it should be 8 runs. If it's a 100m six, it should be 10 runs. There should be some reward for hitting such sixes that go a long way. Now, whether the ball lands very far or just behind the rope, it’s still six runs," Rohit had said during an interview with Vimal Kumar.
"People like Chris Gayle smash 100m sixes and even Kieron Pollard. We just loft the ball, it goes over the ropes and we get six runs, that’s a bit unfair," he opined.
The remarkable hitting in the SA20 tournament has not only provided thrilling entertainment but has also sparked a conversation about evolving the game's rules to further acknowledge and reward exceptional batting feats. The suggestion of increased runs for longer sixes reflects an appreciation for the skill and power required in modern batting and could potentially bring an exciting new dimension to the game of cricket.
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