Samoa batter Darius Visser etched his name in history on August 20. Visser broke Yuvraj Singh's record for most runs in an over in men's T20Is. As many as 39 runs were scored in the clash between Samoa and Vanuatu which is a part of ICC Men's T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific Region Qualifier A.
In the 16th over of the innings, Visser smashed Nalin Nipiko for six sixes in an over. Visser smashed three consecutive sixes off first three balls. Nipiko followed it up with a no ball. Visser continued to hit big and smashed the free hit delivery for a six. Interestingly, he followed it up with a dot delivery. Nipiko erred and bowled a no ball. On the free hit delivery, he bowled another no ball and Visser smashed it for a six. The wicketkeeper-batter finished the over with a maximum as well to create history.
Previous record
Before Visser, former West Indies captain Kieron Pollard and Nepal's Dipendra Singh Airee have smashed six sixes in an over in T20Is as well. There are two more instances of 36 runs being scored in a T20I. Rohit Sharma and Rinku Singh did it against Afghanistan's Karim Janat. The most recent being Afghanistan's Azmatullah Omarzai conceding 36 runs against Nicholas Pooran in T20 World Cup 2024.
Visser’s century amidst collapse leads Samoa to victory
Visser hit 14 sixes and five fours in his 62-ball 132. He is the first Samoa batter to hit a century in T20Is. Interestingly, apart from him, most of the batters failed to score in double digits. Skipper Caleb Jasmat was the second-highest run-scorer with 16 runs from 21 balls. Samoa scored 174 runs from 20 overs.
In the run chase, opener Nipilko scored 73 runs from 52 deliveries. However, despite skipper Joshua Rasu and Tim Cutler's cameos, Vanuatu managed to post 164/9 and lost the match by 10 runs. Samoa are currently ranked 77th in ICC T20I rankings. Also, this was Visser's third T20I appearance.
Visser breaks another record
Visser's 132 is also the 12th highest score by a batter in men's T20Is. It is also the highest against Vanuatu. The previous record belonged to Cook Islands' Hayden Dickson who represented New Zealand in Under-19s. Dickson scored an unbeaten 112 against Vanuatu on August 17, 2024.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK
Not Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli; Nathan Lyon names this Indian batter as 'massive challenge' for Australian bowlers in Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25
Another blow to Pakistan team; after Abrar Ahmed, star all-rounder out of Bangladesh Series due to injury
