India’s unorthodox wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has scripted history on Day 4 of the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle International Stadium. Pant reached his half-century with a six, completing 100 sixes in Test cricket. He became India’s first batter to hit 100 sixes in Tests.
Before the Test series opener, Pant needed three sixes to reach the milestone. He hit a six in the first innings during his 62-ball 39. In the second innings, he hit a couple of them (second in 37th over) to achieve the unique milestone. The southpaw is the fastest to 100 Test sixes in terms of matches and balls taken (4,918). He achieved it in his 51st Test appearance.
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Who has most sixes in Test cricket?
Pant now holds the third spot on the list of batters among most sixes in Tests. He is now level with Australia's Adam Gilchrist who hit 100 sixes in 96 Tests. The second spot is occupied by former New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Brendon McCullum. He had hit 107 sixes from 101 Tests. The record for most Test sixes belongs to recently-retired England Test captain Ben Stokes. The all-rounder has 138 sixes in 122 Tests.
Jadeja next on the list among current players
Among current players, the closest to 100 sixes in Tests is Pant's teammate Ravindra Jadeja (82 sixes in 90 Tests*). He is followed by Australia's Steve Smith with 68 sixes from 124 Tests. For India, the previous record had belonged to Virender Sehwag (91 sixes), followed by Rohit Sharma (88 sixes). Jadeja is fourth on the list among Indian batters.
Pant takes lead past 352
Pant walked out to bat at no.5 when India were 81/3 in 21st over. He danced down the track against Lahiru Kumara to hit a six over wide long-off. At the end of first session, he was batting on 21 off 22 balls.
A couple of wickets fell at the other end. Pant would've been a goner too had skipper Dhananjaya de Silva had not dropped a catch off Keshara Nuwantha's bowling in the 34th over. He was batting on 28 then.
Pant hit Nuwantha for three fours in the next over. He pulled Kumara for a six over long leg to reach his half-century from 53 balls. In the 41st over, Kumara managed to get Pant's wicket with a short ball. The top--edge led to Niroshan Dickwella taking an easy catch. He departed after scoring 66 off 69 deliveries featuring eight fours in addition to a couple of sixes.
When Pant was dismissed, India were 174/6 with 352-run lead in the bag.