This article will discuss OTD: Herschelle Gibbs becomes first batsman to smash six 6s in international cricket in 2007 first one to hit six sixes in an over. The name of Yuvraj Singh pops up every time we talk about six sixes in an over. However, he was not the first one to hit six sixes in an over. This miracle was performed for the first time by the South African top-order batter Herschelle Gibbs. He did this against Netherlands in the ODI World Cup 2007.
The Proteas thrash the Dutch
The two teams met in the group stage of the 2007 World Cup. For Netherlands, Luuk Van Troost won the toss and invited South Africa to bat first. The Proteas suffered a shock when the young AB de Villiers was caught in front of the stumps on the second ball of the match. South Africa lost their first wicket without adding any runs to the board. However, it was the only phase in the match when the Dutch could celebrate as South Africa that
took control of the proceedings from then on.
First, captain Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis built a 114-run partnership and then it was Herschelle Gibbs who combined with Kallis to decimate the opposition bowling attack. Gibbs accelerated in the 29th over when he smashed Daan van Bunge for six consecutive sixes in his over. The South African hit him all around the park with much ease. These sixes took Gibbs beyond the 50-run mark as he completed his half-century.
Jacques Kallis went on to complete his century and stayed unbeaten till the end as South Africa ended up with a massive 353 runs on the board. The result of the match was already known to everyone at the end of the first innings. Netherlands could only accumulate 132 runs in the run chase as the South African bowlers dominated throughout the second innings. The Proteas won the match comfortably by 221 runs to bag valuable points in the tournament. Despite Kallis’ century, Herschelle Gibbs was awarded the player of the match for his 72-run knock which included six sixes in an over.