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Record innings stuns league opponents
A club cricketer from Staffordshire has stunned the local cricketing community by hitting 19 sixes during a blistering 150-run knock, potentially setting a new record in the process.
The match
Scott Gretton, a 45-year-old mechanic, achieved the remarkable feat while playing for Rugeley Second XI in a South Staffordshire County League Division Three match against Springvale Seconds on Saturday. His innings, which came off just 51 balls at a strike rate of 294, included six fours alongside the 19 sixes, propelling his team to a 156-run victory.
From struggle to dominance
Gretton entered the crease in the fourth over with Rugeley reeling at 7-2. After a cautious start, he found his rhythm, hitting his first six off the seventh ball he faced. From there, his innings accelerated rapidly, reaching 43 off 21 balls before launching an unprecedented assault in the 10th over.
The record-breaking overs
Unbeknownst to Gretton, his onslaught may have made history. He smashed six sixes in the 10th over, followed by another six in the 11th, including a no-ball that allowed him to retain the strike. The 10th over alone yielded 36 runs, with lost balls and retrievals causing significant delays.
"They just kept bowling it in the same place, and didn't learn until I'd probably got about 120, 130 that maybe they should change the length a little bit."
Scott Gretton
Unaware of potential record
Gretton, who has played for Rugeley for over 30 years, had no idea he had hit six sixes in successive overs until a teammate informed him later that evening. The delays caused by retrieving balls hit onto nearby roofs and a car park had obscured the significance of his achievement.
"There was a wide and a no-ball, and then we lost quite a few balls - there was a couple on the Matalan roof and quite a few in the car park as well. They had to go and retrieve them, so that over took ages and that's why it didn't even come to mind what had gone on."
Scott Gretton
Rarity of the feat
The achievement of hitting six sixes in a single over is extremely rare in cricket. West Indies legend Garfield Sobers was the first to accomplish this in first-class cricket in 1968. Since then, the feat has been repeated a handful of times, but doing so in successive overs may well be unprecedented.
"I've heard rumours that no-one's done it before. It's a bit surreal really, for a little club in Staffordshire to have that going on."
Scott Gretton
What's next
Gretton, who began the season with a golden duck, will next play for a Bob Willis XI in Essex on Sunday, carrying the momentum from his record-breaking innings.
