Cricket fans know the names of all those who have smashed 36 runs in an over and become famous overnight, but do they know that Scott Styris once hit 38 runs in an over? Yes, you read that right. 38 runs in an over. Let me take you through what happened that eventful evening.
Scott Styris was signed by Sussex for the 2012 FLt20 tournament (Friends Life T20), a competition which ran between 2010 and 2013. You may now know this tournament as the NatWest T20 Blast – England’s premier T20 league. On that evening of 24th July 2012, Sussex would’ve been mighty proud of their decision to sign Styris.
The Kiwi walked in to bat when Sussex were at 101/3 in 11.2 overs and they would’ve been looking for anything close to 180-190. However, Styris was the only foreign player in the team and he was ready to impress the club. Spin legend Muralitharan missed a run out chance when Styris was still in single figures; this proved costly.
Right arm pace bowler James Fuller was brought on to bowl the 18th over of the innings (then 22-years old) and he had a miserable over, getting hit for 3 fours and 3 sixes in that over, and conceding 38 runs from it – the highest ever in professional cricket. There was also a DOT BALL in that over!
In case you didn’t know, English county T20 rules don’t add 1 run to the score when a no ball is bowled, but 2 runs. So every time, a bowler is hit for a boundary off a no ball, 6 runs will be added to the total, as compared to the normal 5 runs!
Here’s the over ball by ball:
- Ball 1: No ball + four byes
- Ball 1: No ball + four
- Ball 1: SIX!
- Ball 2: SIX!
- Ball 3: Four!
- Ball 4: Dot.
- Ball 5: Four!
- Ball 6: SIX!
That innings of Styris saw his get past fifty in the 18th over and then also get to his second career T20 hundred, finishing with 100(37)*, and taking Sussex up to a very strong total of 230/4. Murray Goodwin’s knock of 55 went completely overshadowed.
For Sussex, this innings came at the right time as it was the quarter final of the 2012 FLt20, and even though Gloucestershire put up a good fight (191/8), they ended up falling short and Sussex went through to finals day. Styris also picked up a wicket and was very deservingly awarded the Man of the Match. Match scorecard.
Now you can tell all your friends that 36 is not the highest that you can score from an over 😛
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