WORLD CUP MOMENTS No.34: Herschelle Gibbs hits six sixes in one over

The South African batsman embarrassed Netherlands' Daan van Bunge with a blistering array of hitting in St Kitts

As one of the greatest batsmen of all time, Sir Viv Richards had a habit of getting it right. But even the legendary West Indian's predicted that another player would join the list of those to have struck six sixes in an over, prior to the 2007 World Cup, appeared slightly fanciful.

In the 22 years that had passed since Ravi Shastri joined Gary Sobers as the only two players to have achieved the feat, bats might have become bigger, run rates were increasing and Twenty20 cricket had entered the mainstream. Yet Richards' premonition that another over of maximums was imminent on slow Carribean pitches looked bold.

The ninth edition of the ICC showcase struggled for uplifting, positive moments throughout. Whether it was the death of Bob Woolmer, the farcical end to the final between Australia and Sri Lanka, the obscene cost of tickets which priced out locals or the length and format of a bloated tournament, the whole event struggle for a feel-good story.

Though Netherlands' Daan van Bunge might disagree, at least one of them did come in St Kitts, when South Africa came to town to face the minnows. The four-team groups trialled for this particular year had raised the prospect of a possible shock prior to the Super Six stage - but any feeling the Proteas could become a victim of another World Cup embarrassment were ended quickly.

^{Van Bunge became the first bowler to be hit for six sixes in an ODI}

Twenty-nine overs into their innings, the four-time semi-finalists were going along nicely at 178 for 2. Jacques Kallis and Herschelle Gibbs had put on 64 for the third wicket after a century stand between the former and Graeme Smith. AB de Villiers had earlier been dismissed for a second ball duck.

Though Gibbs had enjoyed some success against the Dutch attack, runs had only come at a touch over a run-a-ball. However, he would soon upgrade his 32 from 30 delivers with a barrage of hitting the like of which had never been seen at a World Cup.

Van Bunge had only gone for 20 from his three completed overs and though he was offering little to trouble the South Africans, there were few signs of what was to come. The first delivery of the 30th over was floated towards Gibbs' legs, which he appeared to anticipate, charging down the ground and sending the ball back from where it came.

A straighter second ball produced a far flatter hit from the then 33-year-old, but the result was the same. Indeed, the ball struck the advertising hoardings and was almost returned directly back to Van Bunge was the velocity at which the ball flew over the rope. Slightly off the back-foot, Gibbs went to his half-century in 33 balls with a third six on the trot, from a ball wide of off-stump.

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Having played at the 2003 tournament in South Africa, van Bunge was no strange to this level, but stopping the waves of attack was another thing entirely. A rather hopeful full-toss was dispatched almost with a hint of derision through deep midwicket as South Africa went past 200.

By this stage, Gibbs was throwing the bat hard at anything that moved and a shortish ball was dismissively pummelled down the ground with almost garish arrogance. Perhaps the shot of the over was reserved for the finale, swatting van Bunge again through deep midwicket, sending the ball rattling onto the top of the stand at Warner Park.

That Gibbs (70 from 42 balls) would only last four more balls - captain Luuk van Troost ended the massacre -  with another 19 overs still remaining was deemed rather irrelevant given what had gone before. History had been made at cricket's premier event, just like Richards said it would.

^{A local charity were among those to also benefit from Gibbs' heroics}

Unsurprisingly, South Africa would go on to win by 221 runs after making 353 for 3 from their 50 overs - but the game belonged to Gibbs. Despite the level of opponent, the moment was immediately compared with that of Sobers and Shastri, as much for its audacity as for its brutality.

Though Netherlands were left battered and bruised by an emphatic defeat and by Gibbs' ruthless approach, while others were preparing to usher in a new era of batting dominance, there was a clear silver-lining that the wider cricketing community could all embrace.

Tournament sponsors Johnnie Walker would later make good on their promise to donate $1 million to charity Habitat for Humanity, which helps support those homeless in the Caribbean. It at least meant that though many locals were unable to see it, they were at least able to benefit in some way.

The shirts worn by Gibbs and Van Bunge, as well as the bat used to smash the sixes were later sold for a little under $20,000 a auction. Indeed, as it turns out that final six through the onside really was the money shot.