In a thrilling match against Afghanistan at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, the West Indies cricket team matched a significant record in T20 World Cup history. During their final group stage game of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024, West Indies equaled the record for most runs scored in a single over, a feat first achieved by India in 2007. In a remarkable display of power hitting, West Indies scored 36 runs off Azmatullah Omarzai’s fourth over. This brought back memories of Yuvraj Singh’s historic six sixes in an over against England’s Stuart Broad during the inaugural T20 World Cup.
Unlike Yuvraj’s six-ball spectacle, the 36-run over from Omarzai included a mix of boundaries and extras. Nicholas Pooran was the primary architect of this record-equalling over, hammering three sixes and two fours. Omarzai’s wayward bowling also contributed significantly, with the over including a no-ball and a wide that each went for five runs. The sequence of the over read: 6, 5NB, 5WD, 0, 4LB, 4, 6, 6.
Pooran’s extraordinary performance put him in an elite group of cricketers who have scored 36 runs in a single over in T20 internationals, joining the likes of Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, and Rinku Singh. His innings of 98 runs included eight massive sixes, propelling him past Chris Gayle’s record of 124 sixes to become the West Indies player with the most sixes in T20I history, with a tally of 128 sixes.
The match saw the West Indies setting their highest first-innings total in T20 World Cups, ending at 218/5. This formidable score was largely due to the explosive partnership between Pooran and Johnson Charles after the early dismissal of opener Brandon King, who was removed by Omarzai for just 7 runs off 6 balls. Pooran’s aggressive batting style, combined with Charles’ steady contribution, placed the West Indies in a commanding position throughout their innings.
Pooran’s blistering innings was instrumental in the West Indies achieving the highest first-innings total of the ongoing tournament, marking a historic day for the team. The power-hitting display not only secured their position in the group stage but also left a significant mark in the T20 World Cup records. This match against Afghanistan will be remembered for Pooran’s remarkable performance and the equaling of a long-standing record in the T20 format.
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