Winning a match by smashing a six off the last ball is the best thing in cricket. Only a few batsmen can do this. So winning a match with the last ball six is rare. But what if a batter smashes 2 sixes in the last 2 balls to win the match. It will be like winning a world cup for his team. In cricket history, only nine batters have done this feat. No matter how many times we saw the highlights of that match, the goosebumps kept coming when we saw that last two sixes. However, I have divided these nine players into two categories.
Category 1: Smashed two consecutive sixes in the last two balls when needing ten or fewer runs to win the match.
Category 2: Smashed two consecutive sixes in the last two balls when needing 12 runs to win the match.
- Smashed 2 Sixes In The Last 2 Balls When Needing 10 Or Fewer Runs To Win The Match
- 5. Rashid Khan
- 4. Nathan McCullum
- 3. Ravindra Jadeja
- 2. Kieron Pollard
- 1. Rohit Sharma
- Smashed 2 Sixes In The Last 2 Balls When Needing Exactly 12 Runs To Win The Match
- 4. Mitchell Marsh
- 3. Nishan Peiris
- 2. Rahul Tewatia
- 1. MS Dhoni
Let’s start with category one
Smashed 2 Sixes In The Last 2 Balls When Needing 10 Or Fewer Runs To Win The Match
5. Rashid Khan
IPL 2022 witnessed lots of thrilling moments. One came when the Gujarat Titans played against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. Rashid Khan hit 2 sixes in the last 2 balls of the 20th over to win the match for GT. In the last over, they needed 22 runs. GT all-rounder Rahul Tewatia smashed six off the first ball of Marco Jansen’s over. He took a single on the next ball, then Rashid struck the third ball of the over for a six.
However, he failed to connect the fourth ball for a big shot. GT needed nine runs off the last two balls. The leg-spinner hit both the balls for sixes and gave sensational victory to his team. However, Rashid scored 31 runs off 11 balls and his partner Tewatia cracked 40 off 21.
4. Nathan McCullum
This less-known kiwi cricketer has done miracles for his team sometimes. In 2013, When New Zealand needed 17 runs off 4 balls during a rain-interrupted match against Sri Lanka at Hambantota, Nathan Finished the match in epic style.
He struck 2 fours and a six off legendary Sri Lankan spinner Rangana Herath in a high-pressure situation. Which meant New Zealand needed just one run from the final delivery. Still, McCullum, who has smashed six of the penultimate delivery, has deposited the final ball into the stands repeatedly to win the match emphatically. He surprised everyone by hitting 2 sixes in the last 2 balls.
3. Ravindra Jadeja
A name that doesn’t requires much introduction. But, in IPL 2020, The CSK team saw a slight fall and played their last matches for their reputation. Meanwhile, in a league match between KKR and CSK teams, KKR set the target of 173. However, in the chase, there was a slight tension at the end of the Chennai innings.
Needing 30 runs in the last two overs, Jadeja did magic and scored 20 runs in the penultimate over. With that, only ten runs are needed in the last over. But only three runs came in the first four balls. It means CSK needs seven runs in the last two balls. In this crunch situation, our Sir Ravindra Jadeja showed his finishing skills. He smacked two sixes in a row of the last two balls of Nagarkoti. Eventually, Jaddu scored 31 off just 11 balls to help Chennai win the match in classic style. Jadeja took CSK home in his style by hitting 2 sixes in the last 2 balls.
Watch – Jadeja Sixes Here
2. Kieron Pollard
February 25, 2017. A league match between Karachi and Lahore teams did play as part of the Pakistan Super League. Lahore batted first and scored 155 runs. However, the Karachi team struggled in the chase, but Pollard changed the match course with his destructive batting.
In the final over, Karachi needed 14 runs to win the match. However, only four runs were composed for the first four balls. It means they need ten runs in the final two balls. But Pollard operated Yamin’s 5th ball over the long-off boundary for a six. But he couldn’t stop there. Finally, Pollard gave his team a spectacular victory by popping another six over the square leg. Pollard proved himself again how dangerous he is by hitting 2 sixes in the last 2 balls.
1. Rohit Sharma
In the year 2020, India went on a tour of New Zealand. The 3rd T20 match between India and Black Cops is part of this tour. New Zealand will lose the series if they lose this match. But this match ended in a tie as both teams scored the same number of runs. So super over was held between these two sides to decide the winner. Batting first, New Zealand scored 17 runs in the Super Over.
In Chasing, India scored only eight runs off the first four balls. To win this match, India has to score ten runs in the last two balls. Mighty hitman was on strike. But he was facing a top-class bowler like Southee on New Zealand home soil. But even under pressure, Rohit smacked 2 sixes in the last 2 balls to give the Indian team a sensational victory. Still, I get the goosebumps whenever I watch these super-over highlights. Rohit just shocked everyone by hitting 2 sixes in the last 2 balls.
So, guys, these are the four batsmen who took home their team when they needed 7 to 10 runs in the last 2 balls to win the match. Now we are diving into the second category.
Also Read – 5 Famous Cricketers Who Retired During Their Prime
Smashed 2 Sixes In The Last 2 Balls When Needing Exactly 12 Runs To Win The Match
4. Mitchell Marsh
September 20, 2014. Mohali was the venue for a match between the Dolphins and Perth Scorchers as part of the Champions League. The Dolphins team batted first and scored 164 runs. However, the Perth innings came to the last over. They need 16 runs in the last over to win the match. Mitchell Marsh, who had batted consistently until then, kept the Perth Scorchers’ hopes alive.
However, only four runs did score for the first four balls. So for the final two balls, they required 12 runs scoring 2 sixes in the last 2 balls is not easy. But Marsh connected 5th ball for a six over the midwicket boundary. Then he finished the match with an incredible six, even under such pressure. He became the first player in cricket history to score 2 sixes in the last 2 balls.
Mitchell Marsh hitting 2 sixes off the last 2 balls
3. Nishan Peiris
So far, all the players on this list are pure batsmen or all-rounders. But this Sri Lankan player is a spin bowler. He came to bat at number 10 and scored two sixes in a row. This incident took place during a T20 domestic tournament in Sri Lanka. Batted first, the SLPAC team scored 163 runs. However, Ragama Cricket Club lost eight wickets for 151 runs. They need 13 runs off the last three balls.
At the same time, Peiris came into the crease and had a chance to play the last two balls. His team needs 12 runs off the last two balls to win the match. Everyone thought about what Peiris was going to do. But the Peiris smashed two sixes in a row, shocked everyone, and gave his team a sensational victory. He stunned everyone by hitting 2 sixes in the last 2 balls.
2. Rahul Tewatia
Before Rashid 2 sixes in the last 2 balls, IPL 2022 witnessed a Rahul Tewatia mins boggling finish for Gujarat Titans against Punjab Kings. Gujarat Titans needed 19 runs in the last over, and the Punjab captain handed the ball to Odin Smith. After the dismissal of captain Hardik Pandya on the second ball, Tewatia, who came out to bat, changed the strike by taking 1 run.
However, 17 runs were needed off the successive 3 balls. David Miller hit a four off the fourth ball. And 13 runs were needed to win. But Smith did a silly thing by giving an over-throw run on which Tewatia took back the strike. Now GT needed 2 sixes in the last 2 balls, and Tewatia has done it for the Gujarat team. Before Rahul Tewatia, only one batsman has scored 2 sixes in the last 2 balls, and he is the final one on our list.
1. MS Dhoni
Dhoni is the all-time best finisher in cricket history. He won many losing matches for India single-handedly. However, this is the best example to state that Dhoni is the best finisher. A league match did play between RPS and KXIP as part of the IPL 2016. In this match, the RPS target was 173 runs. Dhoni fought alone and brought the match to a final over. But, 23 runs are needed in the last over. Ashwin is at the non-striker end.
Dhoni smacked a six and four of the first four balls and scored 11 runs. However, 12 runs did need in the final two balls. At this time that Dhoni once again proved why he is the best finisher. He smashed an eye-catching six-over deep midwicket off the 5th ball of Axar Patel’s final over. With that, the excitement increased in everyone towards the last ball. But what’s new for Dhoni? He finished lots of matches in this fashion. Dhoni smacked a terrific six off the last ball and gave his team a thrilling victory.