A lot of praise has been given to Kieron Pollard for his 6 sixes in an over in the T20 Series against Sri Lanka. And he deserved it, as he produced a 4-wicket win. Not so much fun for the leg spinner Akila Dananjaya, although his glory happened earlier when he took a hat-trick, including the great Chris Gayle.
6 Sixes are rare. The first 6 Sixes happened in 1968 when Sir Garfield Sobers was playing County cricket for Notts, and hit Glamorgan’s Malcolm Nash all and sundry over the ground at Swansea. Worcestershire Ross Whiteley also hit 6 Sixes against Yorkshire in 2017 to equal Sir Garfield long standing record after 49 years.
With better pitches, powerful bats and more aggressive batsmen, several players joined the bandwagon. Indian Ravi Shastri in 1985, Yuvraj Singh in 2007 also from India, South African Herschelle Gibbs in 2007, Afghan Hazratullah Zazai in 2018, and Canterbury’s Leo Carter last year.
However, nobody has scored 7 sixes in the same over… except Barbadian Henderson “Hendy’ Wallace!
Hendy has plied his trade as a Professional in Irish cricket over 22 years in the 1980s. He should have played for West Indies after he burst into the scene as an Under-19 all-rounder, but somehow it was missed, and he went to Ireland as a Pro. He played at Eglinton CC in North-West cricket, renowned for their partisan supporters and feisty players. Hendy was up for it at all times, and became the scourge of batsmen and bowlers for 2 decades. It was mostly 50 overs, but every season there were also 20 overs Midweek cricket. After all, Midweek cricket in the North-West had been played for over 60 years before T20 became fashionable in the modern world.
Hendy’s feat in 1997 should have been blasted world news, but an interclub match in the middle of Drummond in North-West Ireland, didn’t merit global coverage!
Eglinton needed 50 to win in 2 overs against Limavady, when Hendy faced the legendary ‘Decker’ Curry, the most prolific batsman in Irish cricket, with his gentle off spin. Hendy hit 3 mighty sixes, so Decker switched to medium pace. However, he overstepped the crease and the Umpire called a ‘no ball.’ Six after 6 followed in the next 4 balls and Hendy reached 42 in an epic performance. Eglinton now needed 8 to win in the last over.
However, there was no fairytale ending!
Eglinton were bowled out after Victor McDaid took a double wicket, and Hendy was rooted at the other end!
It is now folklore in North-West cricket, and sadly, Henderson Wallace hasn’t got the recognition he deserves because it was club cricket!
Hendy works as Concierge of Sandpiper Hotel, and occasionally cricket commentator. He was a former Chairman of Selector at Barbados Cricket Association and from time to time returns to Ireland.
