Vitality T20 Blast: Colin Ackermann takes 7/18 to set T20 bowling record as Leicestershire Foxes win

South African allrounder Colin Ackermann has set the record for best bowling figures in T20 cricket, claiming a sensational 7/18 to bowl Leicestershire Foxes to victory by 55 runs against Birmingham Bears in the 2019 Vitality T20 Blast.

Leicestershire captain Ackermann’s seven wickets for 18 runs eclipsed the previous T20 best of 6/5, taken by Arul Suppiah for Somerset versus Glamorgan in 2011.

Set a target of 190, Warwickshire were bowled out for 134 as Ackermann, a part-time offspinner, dismissed Michael Burgess, Sam Hain, Will Rhodes, Liam Banks, Alex Thomson, Henry Brookes and Jeetan Patel at at Grace Road on Wednesday.

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Ackermann’s stunning spell triggered a collapse of eight wickets for 20 runs.

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Colin Ackermann takes 7/18 – the best bowling figures in T20 history

https://t.co/afo2WOG7iX pic.twitter.com/BLgpf0H2F1

— Vitality Blast (@VitalityBlast) August 7, 2019

Bowling his part-time off-breaks, Ackermann finished with the incredible figures of 7-18 from his four overs as the Bears collapsed dramatically, losing their last eight wickets for just 20 runs to subside to 134 all out.

“It hasn’t really sunk in. I’m sure I’ll remember this game for a long time,” said the 28-year-old. “I think it’s the first time it’s really turned at Grace Road. I tried to use my height and get a bit of bounce.

“I wanted to get the batters to hit into the bigger side of the field and mixed up my pace. Never in a million years (did he think he would set a world record). I’m a batting allrounder.”

Best bowling in each format:
First-class: 10/10 by Hedley Verity – Yorkshire v Nottinghamshire at Leeds 1932

List A: 8/10 by Shahbaz Nadeem – Jharkhand v Rajasthan at Chennai 2018/19

T20: 7/18 by Colin Ackermann – Leicestershire v Warwickshire at Birmingham 2019 https://t.co/7gfJ6GJpLh

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) August 8, 2019

The win moved the Foxes up the North Group table to fourth place, above Birmingham.

“You can’t take away from a great display of bowling. Colin’s spell put them in the ascendancy,” said Warwickshire captain Patel.