On This Day: Brian Lara hit Robin Peterson for 28 runs in an over

On this day, West Indies batting maestro Brian Lara set a new world record by hitting South African left-arm spinner Robin Peterson for 28 runs in an over. The Test match was played at the Wanderers in 2003. The over was the final of the day, but Lara was in no mood to just play it down and return to the pavilion.

The first ball was a short ball which was cut ferociously square of the wicket. Lara quickly shifted on the back foot and did not even bother to think about taking a single after hitting.

The second ball was a flighted one and this time, he hopped forward and hit it over long-on for a big six. The third ball also met with the same fate as it was hit hard over mid-wicket in a similar style as the previous one.

There was more to come for the left-arm spinner Robin Peterson as the fourth ball, little flatter and fuller, was smashed straight down the ground for a boundary. The fifth ball was also hit over the top of the South African bowler for the third boundary of the over. The final ball was cut past point for another boundary to make it 28 runs in the over.

Lara did not allow Peterson to settle at all while he also looked reluctant to bowl at Lara. He got his lengths wrong and the legendary batsman totally capitalised on it. This record was later equaled by Australian George Bailey in the 2013 Ashes series where he hit 28 runs in an over off the bowling of England’s James Anderson.

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