Akash Choudhary of Meghalaya slams eight consecutive sixes to reach fastest ever first-class fifty

Meghalaya all-rounder Akash Kumar Choudhary created history on Sunday as he smashed an 11-ball half-century against Arunachal Pradesh to establish a new record for the fastest ever first-class fifty. He also became the first player ever to slam eight sixes in eight consecutive deliveries.

Choudhary made all this history on the second day of Meghalaya’s fourth round clash against Arunachal Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy plate group in Surat.

The 25-year-old came out to bat after the fall of the sixth wicket when Meghalaya had already piled up 576 runs in 124.2 overs. He started his innings with a dot ball and then picked up two singles on the next two balls he faced.

The right-handed batter, who also bowls medium pace, then tore apart left-arm spinner Limar Dabi in the 126th over of the innings. Dabi was hit for six on all six balls of the over. Choudhary thus became only the third batter in first-class history to hit six sixes in an over. India’s Ravi Shastri and West Indian legend Gary Sobers were the only two players to hit six sixes in an over in this format with Choudhary now joining the club.

The Meghalaya all-rounder then launched two more sixes in his next two balls to complete the fastest ever first-class half-century in just 11 balls. He broke Leicestershire’s Wayne White’s record who had achieved the fifty-run mark in 12 balls in 2012.

However, in terms of time taken, Choudhary fell a minute short of Clive Inman who had hit a 13-ball fifty way back in 1965. Inman had completed his fifty in just eight minutes for Nottinghamshire while Choudhary took nine for his half-century.

Meghalaya vs Arunachal Pradesh scores

Before Choudhary’s six-hitting show, Meghalaya batters were already in command against Arunachal Pradesh.

Opener Arpit Bhatewara (207) hit a double century while captain Kishan Lyngdoh (119) and middle order batter Rahul Dalal (144) hit tons. Apart from Choudhary, Ajay Duhan (53) also hit a fifty. Thanks to all the big scores, Meghalaya declared on 628/6.

Aryan Bora then picked up four wickets as Meghalaya bundled out Arunachal for a paltry 73 in 27.4 overs, to take a mammoth 526-run lead.