Despite one dot ball in an over, Shoaib Bashir concedes record-breaking 38 runs

English county cricket witnessed an extraordinary moment as 20-year-old spinner Shoaib Bashir conceded a staggering 38 runs in a single over. This unwanted record ties the mark for the most expensive over in the County Championship’s history.

Barrage of Sixes against Shoaib Bashir

Playing for Worcestershire against Surrey, Shoaib Bashir faced the wrath of his England teammate, Dan Lawrence. Lawrence, in scintillating form, launched a stunning assault, smashing five consecutive sixes off Bashir’s bowling.

Dan Lawrence adding insult to injury

As if conceding five sixes wasn’t enough, misfortune continued to plague Bashir. The sixth ball of the over sailed down the leg side, awarding Dan Lawrence five wides.

To make matters even worse, Bashir overstepped on the following delivery, gifting Lawrence a single and a punishing two penalty runs. Incredibly, Bashir managed to salvage some pride with a single dot ball to end the over.

Shoaib Bashir’s nightmare over matched the record set by Alex Tudor in 1998, when the Surrey bowler conceded 38 runs (with Andrew Flintoff smashing 34 of them) against Lancashire.

Bashir’s debut season and Lawrence’s heroics

This remarkable event unfolded during just Bashir’s 12th first-class match, following his recent Test debut for England in India.

Meanwhile, Lawrence continued his dominant display, compiling a career-best 175 runs in Surrey’s first innings. He even chipped in with two wickets as Worcestershire found themselves struggling at 147 for 7 wickets.

Glimpse into History: Garry Sobers’ six sixes

While Bashir’s over will be remembered for its sheer number of runs conceded, it’s important to acknowledge the even more incredible feat achieved by West Indies legend Garry Sobers in 1968. Sobers, playing for Nottinghamshire, became the first batsman ever to hit six sixes in a single first-class over, albeit off legal deliveries. However, the maximum number of runs possible from a legal over remains 36, excluding wides and no-balls.

Shoaib Bashir’s record-breaking over, though an unwanted one, serves as a reminder of the drama and unpredictability that unfolds on the cricket field. It also highlights the contrasting fortunes of teammates, with Lawrence enjoying a dream day at the crease while Bashir’s expensive over will undoubtedly be a learning experience for the young spinner.