Cricket

Lizelle Lee's record-breaking innings propelled the Hobart Hurricanes to a resounding 72-run victory over the Perth Scorchers in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL).Lee, the South African opener, smashed an astonishing 150 runs off just 75 deliveries, setting a new WBBL record for the highest individual score. Her innings included a blistering 51-ball century and a world record 12 sixes, eclipsing the previous marks set by Grace Harris.Lee's dominance was evident from the outset as she single-handedly contributed 73% of the Hurricanes' total of 203 for 3. Her innings featured a 114-run partnership with Elyse Villani and an unbroken 73-run stand with Heather Graham.The Scorchers' bowlers struggled to contain Lee's onslaught, with Chloe Ainsworth's 2 for 17 being the only bright spot. Ebony Hoskin, who had been the hero for the Scorchers in their previous match, conceded 53 runs from four overs without taking a wicket.The Scorchers' chase got off to a disastrous start as they lost Sophie Devine for a golden duck and Chloe Piparo run out in the opening over. Despite a valiant effort from Ainsworth (41), the Scorchers were bowled out for 131, falling well short of the target.Lee's record-breaking performance not only secured a crucial victory for the Hurricanes but also highlighted her status as one of the most destructive batters in the world. Her innings will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest in WBBL history.

Sydney Thunder's Georgia Voll has etched her name in the record books with a scintillating 92-run knock, leading her team to a resounding 64-run victory over Adelaide Strikers. The triumph marks Thunder's biggest win in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) and their second victory in three matches this season.Voll, who joined Thunder from Brisbane Heat on a three-year deal, seized the opportunity to open the batting and unleashed a barrage of boundaries. Her innings, which included three sixes and 12 fours, propelled Thunder to their highest total of 212 for 5.The 21-year-old shared a 54-run opening stand with Chamari Athapaththu before combining with Phoebe Litchfield for a 96-run partnership off just 52 balls. Litchfield also contributed a valuable 49, showcasing her creative strokeplay with scoops and reverse sweeps.In reply, Adelaide Strikers struggled to keep pace with Thunder's onslaught. Only Katie Mack's 51 provided some resistance, as Shabnim Ismail and Sam Bates wreaked havoc with the ball. Ismail claimed 3 for 18, while Bates returned career-best figures of 4 for 21, dismantling the Strikers' middle and lower order.The result leaves Adelaide with a 1-2 record in the shortened 19-game season, while Thunder have emerged as early contenders with two wins from three matches. Voll's performance has been a revelation, showcasing her potential as a top-order batter and providing a glimpse of what Thunder can achieve this season.

Chad Bowes' blistering double century against Otago Volts in the domestic competition has etched his name into the record books as the fastest List A double centurion ever. The Canterbury Kings opener achieved the feat in a stunning 104 balls at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch, surpassing the previous record held by Australia's Travis Head and India's Narayan Jagadeesan, who reached their double centuries in 114 balls.Bowes' double century is also the second such milestone in the tournament's history after Central Stags' Jamie How slammed 222 in 2012/13. The South Africa-born opener, who has represented New Zealand in six ODIs and 11 T20 matches, was playing his 100th List A match, making the occasion even more special.While Bowes shone brightly, it appeared he was on a different wavelength compared to his Canterbury teammates, Mitch Hay and Zak Foulkes, who were recently selected for New Zealand's white-ball series against Sri Lanka next month. Bowes dominated the Otago bowlers, blasting seven sixes and an astonishing 27 fours before being dismissed for 205 runs off 110 balls.Bowes needed 53 balls to reach his first century of the season, which is one of the five fastest centuries (by balls) in the history of the competition (the record is held by Ross Taylor - 49 balls for Central Stags in 2021/22). His remarkable contribution led Canterbury to a total of 343/9 after they were put in to bat, with six players failing to reach double figures, and Foulkes being the next highest scorer with a score of 49 not out.Bowes' record-breaking performance may have been fueled by frustration over missing out on a spot in the New Zealand white-ball squad. However, he channeled that frustration into a historic innings that will be remembered for years to come.

Yuvraj Singh's Record Shattered: Samoa's Darius Visser Blasts 39 Runs in an OverIn a remarkable feat, Samoa's wicketkeeper-batsman Darius Visser has broken Yuvraj Singh's long-standing record of 36 runs in an over in a T20I. During the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Sub Regional East Asia-Pacific Qualifier A match against Vanuatu, Visser unleashed a blistering assault on seamer Nalin Nipiko, smashing six sixes and three no-balls for a staggering 39 runs.Visser's onslaught began with three consecutive sixes off the first three balls of Nipiko's over. He continued his boundary-hitting spree with another six from the fourth legal delivery, propelling Samoa's total to a century. Despite Nipiko's attempt to contain Visser with a dot ball on the fifth delivery, the 28-year-old remained undeterred. He capitalized on the momentum, smashing another six from the third no-ball of the over. To cap off his remarkable performance, Visser concluded the over with yet another maximum, cementing his place in history as the first Samoan player to hit a century in international cricket.Visser's outstanding innings featured an impressive tally of 14 sixes, just four shy of the record for the most sixes hit by a single batter in a men's T20I match. His game-changing knock of 132 runs from a mere 62 deliveries proved to be the catalyst for Samoa's second victory in the tournament. This triumph kept their aspirations of qualifying for the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup edition alive and kicking.Visser's record-breaking feat has not only etched his name in the annals of cricket history but has also brought unprecedented attention to the sport in Samoa. His performance serves as an inspiration to young cricketers around the world, demonstrating that anything is possible with determination and hard work.

Sussex emerged victorious in a thrilling encounter against Leicestershire at Hove, securing an 18-run victory despite a record-breaking performance from Leicestershire's Louis Kimber.Kimber, batting at number eight, produced an astonishing innings, scoring 243 runs off just 127 balls. His innings included 20 fours and 21 sixes, breaking Ben Stokes' Championship record of 17 sixes set in 2022. Kimber's onslaught included a remarkable 43-run over off England seamer Ollie Robinson, the highest number of runs scored in an over in the County Championship since 1998.Despite Kimber's heroics, Sussex's bowlers managed to restrict Leicestershire to 445 in their second innings, with Chris Coles and Jack Carson claiming three wickets each. Sussex had earlier declared their second innings on 296 for 6, with Tom Alsop scoring an unbeaten 81 and Jack Hunt contributing 65.Kimber's innings was a testament to his power and timing, as he cut, pulled, and drove the Sussex attack with ease. He offered a difficult chance on 17 to Alsop at slip, but the ball burst through his hands. Carson nearly held on to a ball struck with ferocious power over deep mid-wicket, but otherwise, Sussex's bowlers had little answer to Kimber's onslaught.Kimber's record-breaking innings was met with warm congratulations from both Sussex and Leicestershire players, as well as a standing ovation from the crowd. It was the third time in three years that a Leicestershire batter had scored a double hundred in this fixture.Despite Kimber's heroics, Sussex held on for a narrow victory, strengthening their position at the top of the second division. The match showcased the thrilling nature of the County Championship, with both teams producing memorable performances.

Lockie Ferguson's Record-Breaking Spell Powers New Zealand to VictoryIn a remarkable display of bowling prowess, New Zealand's Lockie Ferguson etched his name into the history books with an unprecedented spell in a T20 International against Papua New Guinea. The right-arm pacer produced the most economical 4-over spell in T20I history, conceding a mere 4 runs while claiming 3 wickets.Ferguson's spell was a masterclass in accuracy and control. He bowled an astonishing 24 dot balls, denying the PNG batsmen any scoring opportunities. His victims included Lega Siaka, Charles Amini, and Damien Ravu, who were all dismissed for single-digit scores.Ferguson's performance surpassed the previous record held by Canada's Saad Bin Zafar, who had figures of 4-4-0-2 against Panama in 2021. It also became the best-ever spell (in terms of economy) at the T20 World Cup, eclipsing the previous mark set by Tim Southee (3/4) against Uganda in the same tournament.Ferguson's heroics helped New Zealand bowl out Papua New Guinea for a paltry 78 runs in 19.4 overs. The PNG batsmen struggled to cope with Ferguson's pace and accuracy, and they were unable to build any meaningful partnerships.Charles Amini was the only PNG batsman to reach double figures, scoring 17 runs. Trent Boult, Tim Southee, and Ish Sodhi also chipped in with two wickets each for New Zealand.With the victory, New Zealand finished their T20 World Cup campaign on a high note. Ferguson's record-breaking spell will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most dominant performances in the history of the format.

USA's Aaron Jones has emerged as a cricketing sensation after his explosive performance in the T20 World Cup match against Canada. His unbeaten 94 off just 40 deliveries propelled the co-hosts to a remarkable seven-wicket victory, etching his name in the tournament's record books.Jones's innings was a masterclass in power-hitting, featuring four boundaries and an astonishing 10 sixes. His strike rate of 235.00 left the cricket world in awe. The knock enabled USA to chase down a daunting target of 195, marking the third-highest successful run chase in T20 World Cup history.The 29-year-old batter's heroics also brought to light an old tweet from 2012, where he expressed surprise at MS Dhoni not having scored a T20 half-century. Ironically, Dhoni retired a few years later with two T20I fifties to his name, with his highest score being 52.Jones's partnership with Andries Gous (55 off 33) was equally impressive, yielding 131 runs at a run rate of 14.29 per over. This partnership stands as the highest fourth-wicket or below stand in T20 World Cup history.The USA's victory was a significant achievement for an associate member of the ICC. Their total of 197/3 is the highest ever by an associate member in T20 World Cup history.Jones's performance has not only earned him plaudits but has also raised hopes for the future of cricket in the United States. His ability to clear the boundary with ease and his aggressive approach have made him a fan favorite.As the T20 World Cup progresses, Jones will undoubtedly be one to watch. His explosive batting and fearless attitude could lead USA to further success and inspire a new generation of cricketers in the country.

Riyan Parag, the young batting sensation from the Rajasthan Royals (RR), has etched his name in the record books of the Indian Premier League (IPL) by becoming the third-highest run-scorer among uncapped players in a single season. With his crucial 36-run knock in the Eliminator against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Parag has amassed a total of 567 runs in the ongoing IPL 2023.Parag's impressive performance has been marked by a strike rate of 151.60 and an average of 56.70. He has notched up four half-centuries, with his highest score being an unbeaten 84. His consistent run-scoring has propelled him to the third spot on the list of uncapped players with the most runs in an IPL season.The record for the most runs by an uncapped batsman in an IPL season is held by Yashasvi Jaiswal, also from RR. In the 2023 season, Jaiswal amassed a staggering 625 runs in 14 games, setting a new benchmark for uncapped players. His tally included a century and five fifties, with a career-best score of 124.Australian batsman Shaun Marsh, who was uncapped in 2008, ranks second on the list with 616 runs scored in 11 matches. Marsh's impressive performance included five half-centuries and a century, with his highest score being 115.Parag's remarkable run-scoring has not only established him as a rising star in the IPL but has also placed him among the top run-getters for RR in a single season. In 2022, Jos Buttler set a record for the most runs scored by a right-handed RR batsman in a single season with 863 runs. Jaiswal's 625 runs in the 2023 season currently hold the second position.Parag also holds the record for the most runs scored by a batter batting fourth or lower in an IPL season. The previous record was held by Rishabh Pant of the Delhi Capitals (DC), who amassed 579 runs while batting in the middle order during the 2018 season.The Rajasthan Royals will now face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Qualifier 2 on Friday in Chennai. The winner of this match will advance to the final on Sunday, where they will face the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

The 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) has witnessed an unprecedented surge in six-hitting, with the tournament shattering records and redefining the boundaries of T20 cricket. During the thrilling encounter between Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants, the IPL witnessed a staggering 20 sixes, propelling the season's total to an astonishing 1,125. This remarkable feat surpassed the previous record of 1,124 set in the 2022 season, with several matches still remaining.The relentless pursuit of sixes has become a defining characteristic of the IPL, showcasing the growing dominance of batters in the format. Over the past three seasons, the number of sixes hit has steadily increased, reflecting the evolving strategies and skills of the players.Beyond the six-hitting frenzy, the 2024 IPL has witnessed several other groundbreaking achievements. Punjab Kings etched their name in history by chasing down a mammoth target of 262 set by Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens, marking the highest successful chase in T20 cricket history. The match also featured a record-breaking 42 sixes, the most ever hit in a T20 game.Kolkata Knight Riders, known for their explosive batting, had previously set the highest total at Eden Gardens in the T20 format, scoring 261/6. However, Sunrisers Hyderabad surpassed this record by posting a staggering 287/3 against Royal Challengers Bangalore, having already broken the record earlier in the season with a score of 277/3 against Mumbai Indians.Lucknow Super Giants, determined to secure a playoff spot, completed the highest successful chase at Chepauk, overhauling a target of 211 runs. In the same match against Chennai Super Kings, Marcus Stoinis set a new record for the highest individual score in a chase, with his unbeaten 124.These remarkable achievements have not only elevated the excitement of the IPL but have also highlighted the exceptional talent and skill of the players involved. As the tournament progresses, fans can expect even more records to be broken and the boundaries of T20 cricket to be pushed further.