Exactly 56 years later, on August 31, 2024, another cricketer etched his name in the annals of cricket history. Priyansh Arya replicated Sobers’ extraordinary achievement, joining the exclusive club of batters who have hit six sixes in an over.
In a remarkable display of batting prowess, Priyansh from the South Delhi Superstarz team, participating in the Delhi Premier League, unleashed a barrage of sixes against Manan Bharadwaj, a spinner representing the North Delhi Strikers. He sent the ball soaring over the boundary ropes on six occasions within a single over, leaving spectators in awe.
Bharadwaj, known primarily for his left-arm spin, even resorted to bowling a delivery with his right hand in an attempt to stem the flow of runs. However, his efforts proved futile as the South Delhi Superstarz batsman continued his onslaught.
He soon reached his century in just 40 balls, but Priyansh’s assault on Manan under the afternoon sky stole the show. Priyansh started by charging down the pitch, launching Manan over long-off for a towering six, and then dropped to one knee to clear the long-on fence for another maximum.
The barrage seemed endless as the left-handed batter smashed two more sixes over long-on, followed by another pair over long-off, collecting an incredible 36 runs from Manan’s 12th over. Priyansh eventually notched up his second century of the tournament in the 15th over.
Priyansh became part of an elite group that includes Ross Whiteley (2017), Hazratullah Zazai (2018), and Leo Carter (2020), all of whom have hit six sixes in a domestic T20 match. On the international stage, this rare achievement has been accomplished by Yuvraj Singh, Kieron Pollard, and Dipendra Singh Airee (twice).
Eventually, Priyansh made 120 off 50 balls, laced with 10 fours and as many sixes at a strike rate of 240. Ayush Badoni, his batting partner at the other end, also struck a century for the South Delhi team, making 165 runs off 55 balls, hitting eight fours and ten sixes at a strike-rate of 300.
The duo’s efforts meant South Delhi Superstarz made a whopping 308/5, making it just the second time a 300+ score was achieved by a batting team in T20s. Priyansh and Badoni had a partnership of 286 from 103 balls, which is the highest partnership for any wicket in T20 cricket.