South African batsman Herschelle Gibbs said he used West Indies captain Brian Lara as motivation in hitting six sixes in an over against the Netherlands.
BASSETERE: South African batsman Herschelle Gibbs said he used West Indies captain Brian Lara as motivation in hitting six sixes in an over against the Netherlands in a Group A cricket World Cup match at Warner Park on Friday.
Gibbs became the first player in one-day internationals and only the third player in first-class history to achieve the milestone, after the legendary Sir Garfield Sobers and India's Ravi Shastri.
"I had a look at Brian Charles Lara. He had a few (sixes) in Test match cricket. I thought well maybe I could something similar and today it just happened to be that way. Obviously it did help that the straight boundaries are quite small," Gibbs said at the post-match media briefing.
Lara struck South African spinner Robin Peterson for 28 runs in one over four years ago when the West Indies toured South Africa, to establish a new record for the most runs in one over in Tests.
Gibbs said he realised he could achieve the feat after the fourth ball had cleared the boundary.
"Maybe, I think, after the fourth one. I was thinking about using my feet and coming down to him then I changed my mind and decided I would stay in my crease and see what he comes up with," Gibbs explained.
"(The balls) landed in the right areas for me to have another two gos for it. Luckily enough for me I never miscued any one. It was quite nice."
Gibbs made 72 off 40 balls with seven sixes and four fours after his captain Graeme Smith (67) and Jacques Kallis, who hit 128 not out, had put on 114 for the second wicket in the Group A, World Cup contest.
"I have to thank Graeme and Jacques for laying the foundation they did. If they didn't it would not have allowed me to have a dip when I did. Obviously a lot of praise should go to them. Look, records do happen. It's just your day," Gibbs said.
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