Sampa, Aug 21: Samoa’s middle-order batter Darius Visser has set a new world record for the most runs scored in a single over in T20 Internationals. This remarkable feat was achieved on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, during the World Cup East Asia-Pacific Region Qualifier in Apia, Samoa’s capital.
Visser, competing in just his third T20 International, faced Vanuatu’s pacer Nalin Nipiko in the record-setting over. The 28-year-old right-handed batter smashed six sixes, with three no-balls, to accumulate an astonishing 39 runs. This performance surpasses the previous record of 36 runs, which had been achieved five times in T20 International history.
In addition to his record-breaking over, Visser delivered an explosive innings, scoring 132 runs off 62 balls. His innings included five fours and 14 sixes, highlighting his exceptional power-hitting ability. Visser, who developed his skills in Sydney’s grade cricket and excelled in shot-speed sessions at the Hype Cricket Academy in New South Wales, once clocked over 160 kmph in shot speed.
Samoa’s captain, Jasmat Caleb, expressed pride in Visser’s achievement, stating, “It was clean hitting by Visser. We didnāt realize it was a world record until it was mentioned during the innings break. We are thrilled for him and pleased with our win. We look forward to the next match.”
Samoa will face their rivals Fiji in their next East Asia-Pacific Qualifier match on Wednesday.
Before Visser’s historic performance, the record for the most runs in a single over in Men’s T20 Internationals stood at 36 runs. This record had been set by Stuart Broad (2007), Akila Dananjaya (2021), Karim Jannat (2024), Kamran Khan (2024), and Azmatullah Omarzai (2024). Notably, Stuart Broad conceded six sixes to Yuvraj Singh of India during the 2007 T20 World Cup, while West Indies’ Kieron Pollard achieved the same feat against Dananjaya in a bilateral T20I in Coolidge, Antigua.