Off-spinner Colin Ackermann set a new world record in men’s T20 cricket by claiming astonishing figures of 7-18, during Leicestershire’s 55-run win over Birmingham in the T20 blast.
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.
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Colin Ackermann takes 7/18 – the best bowling figures in T20 history
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“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.
