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Young batsman, 20, shocks cricket world with 37-run over

Hazratullah Zazai has written himself into cricket folklore with an incredible 37-run over and the equal-fastest 50 in T20 history.

Zazai smashed a blistering half-century off just 12 balls in the Afghan Premier League on Sunday to equal the all-time T20 record held by his “idol” Chris Gayle and Yuvraj Singh.

The 20-year-old batsman blasted left-arm spinner Abdullah Mazari for six sixes in one over on his way to tying the mark for the fastest half-century in T20 cricket.

Mazari also produced a wide in the over, meaning he was taken for 37 runs from just six balls.

Hazratullah Zazai went nuts. Image: Afghan Cricket Board
Hazratullah Zazai went nuts. Image: Afghan Cricket Board

Gayle got a close-up look at Zazai’s big-hitting as the West Indian star was in the opposing Balkh Legends team.

“It was a surreal moment for me to perform in front of my idol,” said Zazai.

“I was trying to play my natural game and wasn’t thinking of outshining anybody.”

Left-hander Zazai, who has played for Afghanistan in both one-day and T20 internationals, was eventually out for a 17-ball 62 as his team Kabul Zwanan fell 21 runs short of a target of 245 against Balkh.

“It’s a very proud moment for me,” said Zazai. “It’s a very enjoyable moment for me that my name is now linked to so many big names of the game, the real legends.”

His record-equalling innings came just five days after he scored 124 against Nangarhar Leopards in the same competition.

OTHER PLAYERS WITH SIX SIXES IN AN OVER:

Sir Gary Sobers (Nottinghamshire)

While Zazai was the most recent addition to the list, Sir Gary Sobers was the first person to manage this.

Captaining Nottinghamshire in the County Championship, Gary Sobers took Malcolm Nash to the cleaners.

Ravi Shastri (Mumbai)

The present India head coach was a quality all-rounder during his prime.

Playing the Ranji Trophy, Shastri bulldozed through left-arm spinner Tilak Raj’s over, hitting six consecutive sixes.

Herschelle Gibbs (South Africa)

The Dashing South African was the first player to achieve the feat at international level.

Playing an ODI against minnows Netherlands in the 2007 World Cup, Gibbs tonked his opponent for six sixes in six balls, thus becoming the first and only batsman to date to do so in an ODI.

Yuvraj Singh (India)

Upon being confronted by Andrew Flintoff before the start of the over in India’s encounter against England in the World T20 in 2007, India’s stylish all-rounder took out his wrath on the hapless Stuart Broad.

Broad watched on helplessly as Yuvi smoked him for six sixes, showcasing his trademark bat swing.

with agencies