Sri Lanka all-rounder Thisara Perera, on Sunday, became the first player from his country to smash six sixes in an over in competitive cricket. The hard-hitting all-rounder achieved the incredible feat while representing Sri Lanka Army in their Group A match against Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club in the Major Clubs Limited Over List A Tournament at the Army Ground in Panagoda.

Perera also hit the second-fastest List A fifty during his 13-ball 52 runs knock that was laced with eight sixes. The southpaw came out to bat after Usman Ishak dismissed Ashan Randika for 124. With rain playing spoilsport during the match, the contest was reduced to 41 overs per side. Only 20 balls were left in the innings when Perera came out to bat.

The 20 balls, however, were more than enough for Perera to score a whirlwind fifty and take his team’s score past the 300-run mark. His blistering display with the bat saw Sri Lanka Army finish their innings on a mammoth total of 318 for 3 in just 41 overs.

Thisara Perera’s onslaught

Thisara Perera hit the last ball of the 39th over for a maximum to get going. He sent the ball into the stands once again in the 40th over before going berserk in the final over of the inning. Perera took off-spinner Dilhan Cooray to the cleaners as he hit each one of his delivery for a six. Cooray had a game to forget as he conceded 73 runs in his four overs.

Perera, on the other hand, joined an elite list of players who have hit six sixes in an over in professional cricket.  He became just the ninth player to achieve this record. Earlier this month, Kieron Pollard became the eighth player to hit six sixes in an over during the T20I against Sri Lanka. The first player to achieve this feat is West Indies’ legendary all-rounder Garfield Sobers.

The second player to achieve it was India’s Ravi Shastri in 1985. 22 years later in 2007, South Africa’s Herschelle Gibbs became the first player to hit six sixes in an over in international cricket. In the same year, Yuvraj Singh also hit six sixes in an over against England. The other players to achieve this feat are –  Ross Whiteley, Hazratullah Zazai, and Leo Carter.

Here is the video: