History was created on August 20, 2024, when Samoa batter Darius Visser smashed 39 runs in a single over during a T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific Regional Qualifier match against Vanuatu. In doing so, he broke the previous men’s T20I record and surpassed the famous feat achieved by Yuvraj Singh during the 2007 T20 World Cup.
Born on December 28, 1995, Visser stunned the cricketing world in just his third T20 International appearance. The Samoa batter hammered six sixes in an over bowled by Nalin Nipiko, creating a new record for the most runs scored in a single over in men’s T20I history.
The historic over came during the 15th over of Samoa’s innings. Visser launched the first three deliveries over deep midwicket for sixes before Nipiko overstepped, resulting in a front-foot no-ball. Visser then smashed the free hit for another six. Although one delivery resulted in a dot ball after his straight drive hit the stumps at the non-striker’s end, he finished the over with two more maximums to complete an astonishing 39-run over.
Before Visser’s achievement, the highest number of runs scored in an over in men’s T20Is was 36. Yuvraj Singh was the first batter to hit six sixes in a T20I over when he took apart Stuart Broad during the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup in Durban. Since then, the feat had also been achieved by Kieron Pollard against Akila Dananjaya in 2021 and Dipendra Singh Airee earlier in 2024.
Visser eventually finished with a sensational 132 off just 62 balls, powering Samoa to a memorable performance in the qualifier tournament held in Apia. His innings instantly became one of the most remarkable knocks in T20I cricket history and placed him firmly in the global spotlight.
