In an explosive display of batting, the West Indies equaled the T20 World Cup record for the most runs in a single over during their match against Afghanistan on Tuesday in Gros Islet. This remarkable feat occurred in their final Group stage match of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024, solidifying their dominant performance in the tournament.
The historic over came courtesy of Azmatullah Omarzai, who faced the full wrath of West Indies’ power-hitter Nicholas Pooran. Omarzai conceded 36 runs in his fourth over, equaling the record set by India’s Yuvraj Singh in 2007 when he hit six sixes off England’s Stuart Broad. While Pooran didn’t hit six consecutive sixes, his onslaught included three sixes and two fours, along with some extras, leading to the 36-run total.
Pooran’s remarkable sequence went as follows: 6, 5NB, 5WD, 0, 4LB, 4, 6, 6. This exceptional display put him on an elite list that includes Indian cricket legends Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, and Rinku Singh, who have also achieved this milestone in T20 cricket.
Nicholas Pooran’s innings was a tour de force, scoring a blistering 98 runs and propelling the West Indies to a formidable total of 218/5. His innings included eight towering sixes, bringing his T20I tally to 128 sixes, surpassing the record held by West Indies great Chris Gayle, who has 124 sixes.
The West Indies’ aggressive approach was evident from the start. After being put to bat first, they quickly signaled their intent to dominate. Despite losing opener Brandon King early for 7 runs off 6 balls, the team maintained a high scoring rate. Pooran, alongside Johnson Charles, took charge, leading the Caribbean team to an imposing position.
Charles contributed significantly, supporting Pooran with a strong partnership that laid the foundation for the West Indies’ massive total. Their combined efforts resulted in the highest first-innings score of the tournament and the highest in T20 World Cup history for the West Indies.
This record-equaling performance not only highlighted the West Indies’ batting prowess but also underscored their status as a formidable force in the T20 World Cup. Their dominant display in the Group stage, capped by this historic over, sets a high benchmark as they advance to the next rounds of the competition.
