Maharashtra batter Ruturaj Gaikwad has written his name in the record books by hammering seven sixes in an over – a first in List A cricket – in a Vijay Hazare Trophy quarter-final against Uttar Pradesh in Ahmedabad.

The 25-year-old hit six sixes and also sent a free-hit soaring over the ropes after a no-ball from bowler Shiva Singh.

It was the 49th over of the innings. Shiva’s previous eight overs had gone for 45.

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The 43 runs conceded by Shiva also equalled the List A record for most runs off an over, which was set in Hamilton, New Zealand in 2018 by Northern Districts batters Joe Carter and Brett Hampton.

They combined to hit Central Districts’ Willem Ludick for six sixes, a four and a single in an over with two no-balls.

Gaikwad, who has played nine T20 internationals for India and plays for the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League, went on to score 220 runs as Maharashtra posted 5-330.

Maharashtra then bowled out Uttar Pradesh for 272 to win by 58 runs.

Gaikwad joined an elite group of players to hit six sixes in an over in professional cricket.

Others to have achieved the feat include Garry Sobers (1968), Ravi Shastri (1985), Herschelle Gibbs (2007), Yuvraj Singh (2007), Ross Whiteley (2017), Hazratullah Zazai (2018), Leo Carter (2020), Kieron Pollard (2021), Thisara Perera (2021) and Jaskaran Malhotra (2021).

-Reuters