Meet Darius Visser, the Samoan cricketer who surpassed Yuvraj Singh's record for the most runs scored in a T20I over

In a historic event during the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Sub Regional East Asia-Pacific Qualifier A on Tuesday (August 20), Samoa's wicketkeeper-batter Darius Visser made headlines by breaking the world record for the most runs scored in a single over in men’s T20I cricket. Facing off against Vanuatu, Visser astonishingly accumulated a staggering 39 runs in a single over at the Garden Oval No. 2 in Apia, setting a new benchmark in the sport.

In the 15th over of the Qualifier A match, Visser smashed six towering sixes and was helped with three no-balls from Vanuatu seamer Nalin Nipiko as 39 runs were reached in the over. He surpassed India’s former all-rounder Yuvraj Singh;s iconic feat of six sixes that saw him amass 36 runs in a single over off England’s Stuart Broad in the inaugural ICC T20 World Cup 2007 and more recent efforts from Kieron Pollard (2021 – 36 runs), Nicholas Pooran (2024 – 36 runs) and Dipendra Singh Airee (2024 – 36 runs).

6 6 6 1NB 6 . 1NB 7NB 6= 39 runs

Darius Visser breaks the record for most runs from one over of a men’s T20I Cricket.
The 39 runs conceded from the over was the most in the history of men’s T20I, surpassing the famous 36-run feat achieved by Yuvraj Singh, Dipendra Singh Airee… pic.twitter.com/OrwKeSTXe3

— Shiva Wagle (@aseemshiva78) August 20, 2024

Visser smashed three consecutive sixes from the first three deliveries of Nipiko’s over. He once again cleared the boundary rope from the fourth legal delivery of the over to propel Samoa to a score of hundred. The 28-year-old Visser, who resides in Sydney, smashed 132 from 62 deliveries, including 14 sixes and five boundaries, to help the Samoans defeat Vanuatu by 10 runs.

Visser, who previously played Sydney grade cricket for St George District and Sydney University, also became the first Samoan to score a century at international level in just his 3rd T20I match. He coaches cricket at Sydney University and Newington College.

Nipiko tried to dampen Visser’s spirits by producing a dot ball from the fifth delivery of the over. But the 28-year-old continued to ride high on the momentum and smashed a maximum from the third no-ball of the over. To add icing on the cake he finished the over with another six to ensure he broke the record and became the first player from Samoa to score a century in international cricket.

Visser’s impressive display was laced with a total of 14 sixes, four short of the most hit by one batter in a men’s T20I. His impact performance of 132 from just 62 deliveries was enough to ensure Samoa registered their second victory at the event. Their triumph kept their hopes of qualifying for the next edition of the T20 World Cup 2026 alive.

(with ANI inputs)