Gibbs’s rare record of six sixes in ODI over

Herschelle Gibbs of South Africa made history by becoming the first batsman to hit six sixes in an over in one-day international cricket. Previous record for most number of runs in an over was 30, which Sanath Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka did twice, in Singapore in 1995-96, and Chris Harris at Sharjah in 2000-01. Gibbs's seven sixes in the innings was only one less than the World Cup record for a single innings - Ricky Ponting had slammed eight in the World Cup final in 2003. Gibbs was at his best, but by no means was he the only one to wreck havoc. Mark Boucher slammed 75 from 31 balls, and on the way notched up the fastest half-century in World Cups: he got to the mark off 21 balls, bettering Brian Lara's 23-ball effort against Canada at Centurion in 2003. South Africa's total of 353 for 3 is their highest World Cup score and the best total in a 40-over match, while it was also the fifth-highest by any team in all editions of the tournament. Their run-rate of 8.82 is the fourth-best in a World Cup innings, but the highest by a team batting first. The 18 sixes that South Africa slammed in the innings is an ODI record too, going past Pakistan's earlier mark of 14 against Sri Lanka at Nairobi.This was also the first time there were three century stands in a single innings of a one-day international. After AB de Villiers's second-ball dismissal, Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis added 114 for the second wicket, Kallis and Herschelle Gibbs put together 105 for the third, while Kallis and Boucher added 134 for the fourth.