Captaining the Foxes, Ackermann overtook the previous record for the best bowling figures, set by Somerset’s Arul Suppiah in 2011 during his spell of 6-5 against Glamorgan at Cardiff.

“It hasn’t really sunk in. I’m sure I’ll remember this game for a long time,” he later said.

0️⃣3️⃣4️⃣W0️⃣1️⃣0️⃣1️⃣1️⃣1️⃣1️⃣1️⃣W2️⃣W0️⃣W0️⃣W1️⃣1️⃣W1️⃣W

Colin Ackermann takes 7/18 – the best bowling figures in T20 history

➡️ https://t.co/afo2WOG7iX pic.twitter.com/BLgpf0H2F1

— Vitality Blast (@VitalityBlast) August 7, 2019

“I think it’s the first time it’s really turned at Grace Road. I tried to use my height and get a bit of bounce. I wanted to get the batters to hit into the bigger side of the field and mixed up my pace.”

“Never in a million years” did he think he would create a world record, he added. “I’m a batting all-rounder.”

While more than 30 bowlers have taken six-wicket hauls, this was was the first seven-for in T20 cricket. Ackermann ended with the wickets of Michael Burgess, Sam Hain, Will Rhodes, Liam Banks, Alex Thomson, Henry Brookes and Jeetan Patel in his four-over spell.

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The 28-year-old Ackermann, who was part of South Africa’s 2010 U-19 World Cup squad, joined Leicestershire on a Kolpak deal in 2016. On Wednesday, he kept the county side’s knockout hopes alive with his dream spell, helping them move to fourth spot in the North Group.

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Earlier, Ackermann could contribute only four runs with the bat, but half-centuries by Harry Swindells and Lewis Hill powered the Foxes to a healthy 189. The captain then brought himself into the attack by the third over of the chase, and was instantly rewarded with opener Michael Burgess’ wicket.

The part-timer’s seventh wicket came off the last ball of his four-over spell, as Birmingham, owing to a middle-order collapse, lost their way in a 190-run chase, ending 55 runs adrift with 16 balls to spare.