Pollard becomes third international player to hit six consecutive sixes

West Indies captain Kieron Pollard became the third batter to ever hit six consecutive sixes in an international over following South Africa’s Herschelle Gibbs in 2007 at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup and India’s Yuvraj Singh the same year at the first ever ICC Men’s T20 World Cup – then known as the World Twenty20.

The feat was achieved in the first international match played in the Caribbean since last January between West Indies and Sri Lanka.

Keiron Pollard’s six consecutive sixes with the bat overshadowed Akila Dananjaya’s hat-trick with the ball.

The first six was smashed off one knee over long-on, the second into the sight screen and the third over long-off. He went over midwicket for the fourth and then sent one way back over the bowler’s head for the fifth. The sixth was a nonchalant clip off the pads over deep mid-wicket.

The West Indies captain perished for 38 in the next over, trapped in front by Hasaranga. When the spinner repeated the trick against Fabian Allen (0) on the next delivery, it looked like this match was due for its second hat-trick.

Set a target of 132 after winning the toss, the West Indies got home by four wickets with 6.5 overs to spare.

Earlier, Sri Lanka was held to 131/9 after being sent out to bat, with debutant Pathum Nissanka top-scoring with 39 off 34.

After a positive start, the Sri Lankans were slowed down by the fall of Danushka Gunathilaka in the third over for 4. The opener was caught superbly by a diving Pollard at short mid-wicket, handing debutant Kevin Sinclair a maiden T20I wicket.