It is an exceedingly rare spectacle to witness a consummate 20-over specialist being thoroughly dismantled in such a manner, with such occurrences being relegated to exceptional off-days. Yet, in Match 24 of The Hundred 2024, we were presented with just such a scene. The esteemed maestro of contemporary spin bowling, Rashid Khan of the Trent Rockets, found himself on the receiving end of a battering at the hands of the formidable Kieron Pollard, representing the Southern Brave.
At the 80-ball juncture of the run-chase, the Brave's prospects appeared grim, floundering at a precarious 78 for 6. They were confronted with the daunting task of amassing 49 runs from the remaining 20 deliveries, with the formidable Rashid yet to bowl his final set. Further exacerbating their predicament, Pollard was ensnared in an uncharacteristically sluggish innings, having scored a mere six runs from 14 deliveries.
However, it was at that moment that Pollard decided to take matters into his own hands. In a stunning display of power-hitting, he unleashed not one, not two, not three, but five consecutive sixes, taking the Afghan leg-spinner for an unforgettable ride and dramatically altering the course of the match. The first six was a textbook strike, launched effortlessly over cow corner, while the fifth was a breathtaking display of raw power, sent soaring far beyond long-off. The crowd erupted into a frenzy, as captured in the clip provided below, leaving everyone present at The Rose Bowl in absolute awe of the spectacle they had just witnessed.
Kieron Pollard hitting FIVE SIXES IN A ROW! 😱#TheHundred | #RoadToTheEliminator pic.twitter.com/WGIgPFRJAP
— The Hundred (@thehundred) August 10, 2024
This ruthless onslaught not only shattered Rashid's bowling figures, leaving him with a bruising 40 runs conceded off his 20 deliveries but also propelled the Brave to their fifth victory of the campaign, clinched with just one ball to spare.
For *that* batting performance, your Meerkat Match Hero is Kieron Pollard 💥#TheHundred | #RoadToTheEliminator pic.twitter.com/PnNfitKEtP
— The Hundred (@thehundred) August 10, 2024
For his awe-inspiring display of monstrous power-hitting, the West Indian powerhouse was deservedly honored with the Player of the Match award.
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