Cricket Enthusiast Rewrites History with Remarkable Double Century in County Championship Match
In a remarkable display of batting prowess, Leicestershire’s Louis Kimber etched his name in the record books, shattering several long-standing County Championship records against Sussex at Hove. Batting at number eight, the unheralded 27-year-old produced a scintillating assault, smashing 21 sixes and 20 fours en route to a blistering 243 off just 127 deliveries – the fastest double century by an Englishman in first-class cricket.
Kimber’s extraordinary innings, which included an eye-watering 43 runs in a single over bowled by England Test bowler Ollie Robinson, surged Leicestershire from the brink of defeat to the verge of a remarkable victory. Although the hosts ultimately sealed a narrow 18-run win, the spectators were left in awe of the young batsman’s heroics.
“I just tried to be positive and see what happened,” said Kimber, who had scored just one previous first-class century and averaged 24.65 in 30 matches. “I got a bit of luck here and there but you need that. All the Sussex players congratulated me and told me I didn’t deserve to be on the losing side. They were very gracious.”
Arriving at the crease with Leicestershire reeling at 144-6 and requiring a further 320 runs, Kimber unleashed a relentless onslaught, hitting boundaries seemingly at will. His 62-ball century and subsequent carnage left the Sussex bowlers and fielders scrambling, as the Lincolnshire-born player dismantled the previous record of 17 sixes in a Championship innings held by Ben Stokes.
Sussex Coach Praises Kimber’s Performance
Sussex coach Paul Farbrace acknowledged the exceptional nature of Kimber’s innings, stating, “He hit 21 sixes but it felt like 41 and I’m not surprised at the records he has broken, it was an exceptional innings.”
The match-defining performance from the unheralded Kimber, who had not previously cleared the ropes in a season tally of 223 runs, has undoubtedly captured the attention of the cricketing world, with his name now etched in the annals of the 100-ball cricket, backyard cricket, beach cricket, and club cricket history.
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