Seven Balls, Seven Consecutive Sixes! Yes, This Happened In T20 Match Between Afghanistan And Zimbabwe

When one takes about consecutive sixes in Twenty20 Internationals, Yuvraj Singh's decimation of Stuart Broad in the 2007 World T20 clash in Durban comes to light. Yuvraj smashed six sixes in one over bowled by Broad and it was the third instance in cricket where this feat was achieved. However, in the game between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium in Mirpur on Saturday, a unique event was witnessed in which seven balls witnessed seven consecutive sixes. 

Mohammad Nabi and Najibullah had started building a partnership and Tendai Chatara was bowling the 17th over. Aftr the first two balls went for singles, the third ball was a short ball from Chatara and Nabi dispatched it over deep square leg for the first six. The fourth ball was full but Nabi punched a flat six straight down the ground. The fifth ball completed the hat-trick of sixes as Nabi thumped a full toss over deep midwicket for a six. The sixth ball witnessed the fourth six in the over and Nabi thumped the delivery inside out over extra cover. 

Having seen Nabi hit four consecutive sixes, it was the turn of Najibullah to get going and he decided to target Neville Madziva. The bowler bowled the first delivery short and Najibullah pummelled the pull shot to deep square leg. The second delivery resulted in the sixth consecutive six as Najibullah swatted a short ball to deep square leg for yet anither six. The seventh consecutive six was completed in the third ball as Najibullah scooped a full toss over fine leg for a six. The carnage ended when the batsman sliced a full and wide ball to deep backward point for a boundary and he notched up his fifty off 22 balls. 

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The partnership between Najibullah and Nabi resulted in 107 runs in just 40 balls as Afghanistan notched up 197/5. In response, Zimbabwe never got going as they lost wickets at regular intervals. Brendan Taylor smashed a quick 27 off 16 balls while Regis Chakabva managed 42 off 22 balls but Rashid Khan, the Afghanistan captain was the star as they notched up a 41-run win.

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This was Zimbabwe's second loss in the tri-series, having earlier lost in the final over to Bangladesh but this was also their eighth consecutive loss against Afghanistan, making it their wost losing streak against an opposition. This was also their 11th straight win in the Twenty20 International format, having begun the streak during the Twenty20 series against Zimbabwe in the United Arab Emirates in 2018.

Afghanistan will next take on Bangladesh in the next match on September 15 and this will be the last match in Mirpur before a three-day break for the next round of matches will take place at the Zahue Ahmed Chowdhury stadium in Chattogram.

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