At the same ground where he scored his Dream11 Super Smash century, a stunning five sixes off the first five balls of an over put Central Stags star WILL YOUNG thrillingly close to achieving one of the rarest feats in T20 cricket.

In his first appearance for the Stags since his return last week from the BLACKCAPS Test Series in Pakistan, Young went on a bomb blitz against Auckland Aces spinner Louis Delport in an unforgettable seventh over of yesterday's chase, as the Stags went after the Aces' 191/8 at Kennards Hire Community Oval.

Young had already slammed the first two sixes in a whirlwind 67 off 27 balls before Delport came to the popping crease - and proceeded to be pelted for six first ball.

The second six was even bigger and Young grew bolder with every stroke as the over progressed.

All Delport could do was laugh as the crowd ran after the despatched balls, and officials called out for replacement Kookaburras.

Young reached his 50 off just 24 balls | PHOTOSPORT

It was a sight the likes of which had not seen since January 2020 when Canterbury King Leo Carter tonked a brilliant six consecutive sixes in an over to join the elite world list of T20 batsmen to have achieve a perfect 36 off a single over, wth ND spinner Anton Devcich the hapless bowler on the occasion.

After putting himself in a position to become just the second cricketer to achieve the feat in New Zealand's Dream11 Super Smash, Young admitted he was going to swing at Delport's last delivery no matter what - and had anticipated it would be one of two deliveries he would get from the competitive Aucklander.

It turned out to be a spinner's version of the bouncer "which I thought he might have gone for," said Young, who went to pull the delivery for glory.

"The ball before, he had gone wide, and every now and then when you see a spinner really under the pump, they will bowl a really short one.

"So I was sort of expecting it, but it hit me quite high up on the bat, and I just messed it up in the end."

Young was caught by Danru Ferns on the boundary, ending his shot at a place alongside just 10 players to worldwide have achieved the six-off-six speccy, and Deport's unforgettable over going down as 66666W.

 

 

 

Regardless, his explosive hitting did the job for the Stags with rain on the radar - the visitors pulling way ahead of the DLS par score in the space of those five deliveries.

When the rain arrived and the covers went on at 108/2 in the 10th over, the Stags held a 29-run DLS advantage and were duly confirmed winners of the game with no further play possible.

SCORECARD

Having headed into the match on equal points with the Wellington Firebirds, the win swept the Stags to an outright four-point lead as they gear up for their first Dream11 Super Smash match at Saxton Oval in four years next Saturday on 21 January, their last home doubleheader of the summer.

Article added: Sunday 15 January 2023