Colin Munro hits 23 sixes, sets new First-Class record!

The tally of 23 sixes is a new First-Class record by the proverbial mile.

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As Eden Park witnessed the nerve-wracking ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 encounter between New Zealand and South Africa, Auckland were playing Central Districts at Napier. Though not as enthralling as the World Cup semi-final, the Plunket Shield match was not certainly short of entertainment as Colin Munro lit up McLean Park with a 167-ball 281.

Munro’s blitzkrieg contained 17 fours and 23 sixes (in other words, 206 runs in boundaries). The tally of 23 sixes is a new First-Class record by the proverbial mile: the previous record, shared by Andrew Symonds, Jesse Ryder, and Graham Napier, was a mere 16.

Most sixes in a First-Class innings

Things did not look too bad for Central Districts when Kruger van Wyk put the tourists in. They even dismissed the openers with 64 on the board when Munro joined Carl Cachopa just after drinks in the first session. The final drinks of the day was taken the moment Munro was caught by Dane Cleaver off Tom Bruce.

Munro had caught up with Cachopa by lunch, reaching 35; he added 114 to his tally in the second session; then, in the next hour — in the next hour — he scored a whopping 132. Yes, you have read that right: Munro scored 132 in an hour after tea.

Break-up of Munro’s 281

Auckland finished the day on 471 for five from 92 overs. During Munro’s stay they amassed 371 from 328 balls; the remaining 224 fetched them a round hundred. Carl Cachopa (65) and Robert O’Donnell (42) were the other major contributors.

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