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BASSETERRE, St Kitts - South Africa's Herschelle Gibbs created World Cup cricket history when he smashed six sixes in an over in a crushing victory over the Netherlands in their Group A match here today.
On a record-breaking day for the South Africans who steamrollered the outclassed Dutch
by 221 runs, Gibbs became the first player to pile up 36 runs in a one-day international over.
After hammering leg spinner Daan Van Bunge back over his head four times and over the ropes on the on-side twice, he also became the third man ever to complete the feat at elite level.
India's Ravi Shastri and West Indian Garfield Sobers had achieved the record in first class cricket.
"I'd seen Brian Charles Lara hit a few (sixes) in test match cricket and thought I could do something similar. Today happened to be that day," Gibbs told a news conference.
"The last two balls landed in the right areas for me to have a go and luckily I didn't miscue either of them. If the ball's in the right place I'll try anything."
The lopsided result, though, will once again have raised questions about the International Cricket Council's decision to allow as many as six non-test playing nations into the sport's showpiece event.
Gibbs launched Van Bunge's first delivery of the 30th over high over long-on, and followed that blow with strikes over long-off, twice, a six over mid-wicket, and another pair of mighty hits over long-off.
His pyrotechnic innings was ended five balls later when he holed out to a catch on the long-on boundary off a ball from Dutch captain Luuk van Troost. Ironically it was van Bunge who took the catch to end the onslaught.
He faced just 40 balls and hit four fours and seven sixes in his whirlwind 72.
Gibbs' heroics completely overshadowed the fastest half-century scored in the World Cup by Mark Boucher and Jacques Kallis' century as top-ranked South Africa racked up 353 for three.
Kallis scored a measured 128 not out, captain Graeme Smith added 67, and Boucher was 75 not out after reaching his half-century off a record 21 deliveries.
The South Africans also hoisted an unprecedented 18 sixes in a one-day international. The previous best of 16 was jointly held by Australia and New Zealand.
Another record then went as South Africa completed their biggest one-day victory by restricting the Netherlands to a total of 132 for nine in their reply. Ryan ten Doeschate top-scored with a polished 57.
The Dutch had been spared yet more humiliation after rain had reduced the contest to 40 overs-a-side rather than the usual 50. Overnight showers delayed the start by 2-1/2 hours.
Remarkably, the Dutch had tasted success with the second ball of the match when AB de Villiers played a flatfooted cut to a delivery from medium pacer Billy Stelling and was caught behind without a run on the board.
South Africa's heavyweight batting line-up soon clicked into gear and all three of their subsequent partnerships reached three figures.
Kallis featured in all three stands, and he hit Van Troost for six with each of the last three balls of the innings.
The Netherlands will be braced for another huge beating when they take on holders Australia on Sunday (local time).
South Africa are next in action against Scotland on Tuesday.
- REUTERS