Watch: Herschelle Gibbs hits 6 sixes against Netherlands in World Cup 2007

Watch: Herschelle Gibbs hits 6 sixes against Netherlands in World Cup 2007: It was the 7^th match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007. Minnows Netherlands were up against the mighty South Africans. Rain had delayed the start and the game was reduced to a 40 overs a side match.

Netherlands won the toss and asked South Africa to bat. Surprisingly, South Africa lost its opener AB de Villiers in the very first over of the game. However, there were no surprises from here on in the game as Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs carried the innings forward without any hassle.

The match until the 30^th over looked like yet another one sided game. Jacques Kallis along with Gibbs were well set and a big score. However, there was something very special waiting for the spectators patiently watching the game.

At the end of the 29^th over, South Africa were 178/2. The well set Kallis and Gibbs were ready to push the accelerator and charge on the Dutch bowlers in the last 10 over of the game. However, Gibbs, who was playing on 32 from 30 deliveries, had something devilish in his mind and Van Bunge was hardly aware of it.

Herschelle Gibbs was the man on strike as the leg spinning all-rounder Dan Van Bunge held the ball in his hand ready to bowl his leg-breaks.

First up he bowled a very gentle leg break on the leg stump line. Gibbs stepped forward and hit it strongly over mid-on for a six. The second ball was floated on the middle and off stump. Gibbs showed his muscle power and clobbered it over long off for the second six.

The next ball bowled was flatter in trajectory but Gibbs had no problems. He stood inside the crease and swung his bat powerfully to hit another six in the same direction. It was now a hat-trick of sixes for Gibbs. The fielder at the long off position was a mere spectator. He was as helpless as the bowler himself. With this six, Gibbs completed his half century in 33 balls. It was the then fastest in a World Cup game.

Gibbs looked in murderous mood ready go on carnage. The handful of the crowd inside the stadium came alive. The leggie was clueless. The next ball was a low full toss perfectly in the position to get slogged over the midwicket region for one more massive hit over the ropes. The South African dressing room was on their feet with excitement.

Bunge had by then forgotten his leg breaks and was not sure what his next ball should be. It looked as if he just wanted to finish the over and escape the wrath of the violent Gibbs.

The 5th ball was a half pitched quicker delivery which was arrogantly hit over mid-on boundary. With that the sixes count reached 5. The South African dressing room along with the crowd looked animated.

Bunge delivered the last one of the over. It was a short pitch ball on the off stump, right in the hitting zone. The worst ball of the over. Gibbs didn’t miss this easy opportunity and continued his minnow bashing. He swung hard and deposited the ball in the crowd over the deep mid-wicket region.

Here is it! Here is it! Six in an over! Exclaimed the commentator on the backdrop. There were cheers everywhere. A smiling Gibbs raised his bat to acknowledge the dressing room and the crowd as he was congratulated by his partner, Kallis.

It was the first time in the history of ODI cricket as well as in the history of World Cup that a batsman had hit six sixes in an over. Until that point, only Sir Garfield Sobers and Ravi Shastri had managed the feat — but in first-class matches.

It was an unexpected assault. Dan van Bunge looked disheartened by this rough and brutal treatment by Herschelle Gibbs. The score line for the over read 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6 which was enough to explain Herschelle Gibbs’ brute force.

Watch: Herschelle Gibbs hits 6 sixes against Netherlands in World Cup 2007: