On August 31, 1968, cricket history was made. Sir Garfield Sobers, the legendary West Indies batsman, achieved a feat that had never been accomplished before – hitting six sixes in a single over. It happened during a first-class match in the English County Championship, as Nottinghamshire faced Glamorgan.
Sobers walked in to bat with his team at 308 for 5. He quickly moved into the 40s, showcasing his incredible power and timing. Malcolm Nash, the Glamorgan bowler, was asked to bowl spin despite his usual medium pace delivery. This decision would change the course of cricket history.
The next six deliveries bowled by Nash became legendary. Sobers, looking for quick runs before declaring the innings, unleashed his power, sending each of Nash’s deliveries soaring over the boundary for six runs. The crowd witnessed a spectacle of pure power and precision.
It was almost a near miss on the fifth ball, as Roger Davis caught the ball at the long-on fence. However, he fell over the boundary rope while holding the ball, making it a six.
This record-breaking feat by Sobers would forever be etched in cricket history. While others have achieved the same feat since 1968, including Ravi Shastri (Ranji Trophy), Herschelle Gibbs (ODI World Cup), Yuvraj Singh (T20 World Cup), and Ross Whiteley (T20 Blast), it was Sobers who first achieved this incredible feat, solidifying his place as one of the greatest batsmen of all time.
