Gibbs hits six sixes in World Cup over

BASSETERRE, St Kitts, Mar 16 (Reuters) South Africa's Herschelle Gibbs smashed his way into World Cup history when he hit six sixes in one over in a Group A match against the Netherlands today.

Gibbs became only the third man ever to achieve the feat in first class cricket and the first in the World Cup.

He hammered hapless leg spinner Daan van Bunge back over his head four times and over the ropes on the on side twice to become the first player to achieve the feat in one-day cricket.

Gibbs launched Van Bunge's first delivery of the 30th over high over long-on, and followed that blow with strikes over long-off, twice, a six over mid-wicket, and another pair of sixes over long-off.

Gibbs pyrotechnic innings was ended five balls later when he holed out to a catch on the long-on boundary off a ball from Dutch captain Luuk van Troost.

He faced just 40 balls for his 72, which included four fours and seven sixes.

India's Ravi Shastri and West Indian Garfield Sobers are the only other players to have hit six sixes in an over.

REUTERS DH PM0011