World Cup Highlights: Herschelle Gibbs' six sixes against Van Bunge

Over long-on, over long-off, over long-off, over midwicket, over long-off, over midwicket — those are the areas over which the ball soared as Herschelle Gibbs decided to launch an unprecedented attack in Dan van Bunge’s over — the 30th of the South African innings in their match against the Netherlands at the 2007 World Cup in West Indies. [caption id=“attachment_2083535” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Herschelle Gibbs of South Africa hits his third six off one over during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 Group A match between Netherlands and South Africa at Warner Park on March 16, 2007 in Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis. Getty[/caption] In the space of two-and-a-half minutes, the stylish South African not only became the first (and only) batsman to hit six sixes in international cricket, but also made a charity one million dollars richer after the Johnny Walker Group had promised the amount if any player accomplished the feat. Until that point, only Sir Garfield Sobers and Ravi Shastri had managed the feat — but in first-class matches. Gibbs’ assault came at a time when no one quite expected it — nor was it the need of the hour. Thanks to a 100-plus partnership between Jacques Kallis and Graeme Smith, South Africa had settled after the early loss of a young and inexperienced AB de Villiers. Smith departed in the 19th over for 67 runs from 59 balls. But the man who caught him out was in for a surprise some time later. Van Bunge, who hasn’t played proper cricket in the last 18 months, was Netherlands’ spinning allrounder at that time and must have hardly expected such an assault with South Africa comfortable at 178-2 in 29 overs. Gibbs himself was playing a well-paced innings, poised at 32 off 30 before taking stance in the 30th over.

After seeing Gibbs charging down the track for the first six, Van Bunge sent a slower deliver which Gibbs sent over the off-side. The Dutch bowler sent a sharper flatter third delivery but the result remained the same. Most probably annoyed at this point, he tried a low full-toss (or maybe it was miscued) and Gibbs’ power came into play for the fourth six. Van Bunge was running out of options and variation by this point and a short-pitched ball was sent over the fence off the back foot before he reached out for the last and record breaking shot outside offstump for six more. To make matters worse for Netherlands, Mark Boucher came in after Gibbs was dismissed for 72 from 40 and bludgeoned another 75 runs in just 31 balls. South Africa put up 353 on the board in a rain-curtailed 40-over innings and Netherlands finished at 132-9. Justin Kemp took two wickets but the pick of the bowlers was Shaun Pollock - recording an incredible economy rate of 0.66 in his six overs. South Africa eventually lost in the semifinals of the tournament — against Australia by seven wickets.