A scintillating Yuvraj Singh hit six sixes in an over en route to his 14-ball
58 against England to keep alive India's semifinal hopes in the Twenty20
cricket World Cup here tonight.
In reply to India's imposing 218 for four, England managed
200 losing six wickets, with Vikram Solanki (43) for them and Kevin
Pietersen contributing 39. For India, Irfan Pathan grabbed three
for 37, while RP Singh got two for 28.
The day, however, belonged to Yuvraj, who set Kingsmead on
fire, hitting six sixes in a Stuart Broad over and his batting pyrotechnics
propelled India to an imposing total.
After Delhi duo Virender Sehwag (68,52b,4x4,3x6) and
Gautam Gambhir (58,41b,7x4,1x6) laid the foundation with an opening stand
of 136 runs, Yuvraj (58,16b,3x4,7x6) light up the stadium with the fastest fifty
in Twenty20 that came off just 12 balls and included three fours and six sixes.
He also became the first batsman to hit six successive sixes
in Twenty20, and the second, after Herschelle Gibbs, in one dayers.
It was mayhem in the 19th over as Yuvraj hit Broad's first
ball over wide long on and followed by a flick that sailed over square leg.
The third vanished over extra cover, fourth cleared backward point, fifth soared
over mid-wicket and the sixth was smacked over mid-on to complete the over.
India, meanwhile, have little time to rejoice as they need
to win tomorrow's match against South Africa to open up a three-way tie for
semifinals when run rates would come it account.
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