On 19 September 2007 at Kingsmead, Durban, international cricket witnessed one of its most electrifying displays of counter-attacking batsmanship. Facing elimination pressure in a must-win Super Eight clash against England during the inaugural ICC Men's T20 World Cup, India's Yuvraj Singh transformed raw on-field tension into clean hitting by smashing six consecutive sixes in a single over off fast bowler Stuart Broad.
The iconic 19th over produced 36 runs, propelled Yuvraj to a historic 12-ball half-century, and shifted India's momentum toward lifting the 2007 World T20 trophy. Here is the full story behind the verbal altercation, the ball-by-ball mechanics of all six strikes, and the records forged on that historic night in Durban.
The 18th Over Spark: What Happened Between Yuvraj and Flintoff?
India sat well-placed at 155/3 after 17 overs when Yuvraj Singh took strike against premier England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff in the 18th over. After Yuvraj clipped consecutive boundaries through fine leg and backward square, frustration bubbled over from the English side.
As the over ended, Flintoff directed verbal jibes toward Yuvraj, reportedly telling him: "Those were f***ing ridiculous shots." Yuvraj charged back down the pitch, responding: "You see this bat in my hand? You know where I am going to hit you with this bat?"
The confrontation intensified to the point where on-field umpires Billy Doctrove and Daryl Harper had to separate the players.
England captain Paul Collingwood handed the 19th over to 21-year-old Stuart Broad. Charged with adrenaline and focused entirely on clearing the ropes, Yuvraj channeled his fury straight down the pitch.
Ball-by-Ball Breakdown: The 19th Over (Stuart Broad to Yuvraj Singh)
Broad attempted various lines, lengths, and angles from around and over the wicket, but Yuvraj's high backlift and bat speed dismantled every variation:
| Ball | Delivery Type | Execution & Landing Zone |
|---|---|---|
| 18.1 | Full-length, slightly wide outside off | Smashed over deep mid-wicket; recorded at an estimated 111 meters out of the stadium. |
| 18.2 | Pitched up on middle and leg stump | Effortless wrist flick deposited cleanly backward of square leg into the grass banks. |
| 18.3 | Full delivery outside the off stump corridor | Stepped to the leg side, opened the face of the bat, and drove over long-off. |
| 18.4 | Wide full toss outside off (around the wicket) | Carved horizontally over deep backward point, clearing the rope flat for maximum four in a row. |
| 18.5 | Full ball angled into the pads (over the wicket) | Dropped onto one knee and dispatched high over wide mid-wicket into the stands. |
| 18.6 | Full pitch straight on middle stump | Cleared the front leg and struck straight back over wide mid-on to complete the 36-run set. |
The 12-Ball Half-Century Milestone
The final six off Broad brought up Yuvraj Singh's half-century in just 12 deliveries (scoring sequence: 0, 4, 1, 4, 4, 1, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6). This benchmark stands as the fastest fifty in ICC Men's T20 World Cup history and remains the fastest by any batter from an ICC Full Member nation in international T20 cricket.
Yuvraj was eventually dismissed in the final over for an astonishing 58 off 16 balls, striking at an incredible 362.50 with 3 fours and 7 sixes.
Match Outcome and India's Path to Title Glory
Powered by openers Gautam Gambhir (58) and Virender Sehwag (68), capped by Yuvraj's late blitz, India set an imposing total of 218/4 in their 20 overs. England pushed aggressively in response, led by Kevin Pietersen (39) and Vikram Solanki (43), but were restricted to 200/6. India secured an 18-run victory.
The win kept India in contention for the semi-finals, establishing the mental momentum that carried MS Dhoni's squad past South Africa, Australia in the semi-finals (where Yuvraj hit 70 off 30 balls), and Pakistan in the final to lift the inaugural World T20 crown.
Six Sixes in an Over: Elite Club in International Cricket
Prior to Yuvraj Singh, the feat of hitting six sixes in an over had never occurred in twenty-over international cricket:
| Batter | Format | Bowler | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Herschelle Gibbs (South Africa) | ODI (vs Netherlands) | Daan van Bunge | 2007 |
| Yuvraj Singh (India) | T20I (vs England) | Stuart Broad | 2007 |
| Kieron Pollard (West Indies) | T20I (vs Sri Lanka) | Akila Dananjaya | 2021 |
| Jaskaran Malhotra (USA) | ODI (vs Papua New Guinea) | Gaudi Toka | 2021 |
| Dipendra Singh Airee (Nepal) | T20I (vs Qatar) | Kamran Khan | 2024 |
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Yuvraj Singh hit six sixes in an over?
Yuvraj Singh accomplished the milestone on 19 September 2007 during India's Group E Super Eight fixture against England in the inaugural ICC Men's T20 World Cup in Durban.
Who bowled the over when Yuvraj Singh hit six sixes?
England fast bowler Stuart Broad delivered the 19th over of India's innings, conceding 36 runs off six consecutive balls.
What started the fight between Yuvraj Singh and Andrew Flintoff?
After Yuvraj struck two boundaries off Flintoff in the 18th over, Flintoff exchanged verbal taunts with Yuvraj at the change of ends. The confrontation heated up, prompting the on-field umpires to step in moments before Stuart Broad began the 19th over.
Is Yuvraj Singh's 12-ball fifty still the fastest in T20 cricket?
Yuvraj's 12-ball fifty remains the fastest in ICC Men's T20 World Cup history and the fastest by a Full-Member player in T20 internationals. The overall Men's T20I record is held by Nepal's Dipendra Singh Airee, who reached fifty in 9 deliveries against Mongolia in 2023.
What was Stuart Broad's career impact after this match?
Rather than derailing his career, the 2007 over became a turning point for Stuart Broad. He adjusted his lines, developed into a premier red-ball bowler, and retired in 2023 as one of only two fast bowlers in cricket history to capture over 600 Test wickets.
Legacy: The Over That Defined an Era
Yuvraj Singh's demolition of Stuart Broad wasn't just a burst of scoring; it was the definitive cultural catalyst for the T20 format. In 2007, twenty-over cricket was still viewed by purists as a domestic exhibition. Yuvraj's counter-punch proved that high-stakes international T20 cricket demanded fearless intent under hostile match pressure.
For Yuvraj, it solidified his reputation as India's premier white-ball match-winner, setting up his Player of the Tournament run at the 2011 ODI World Cup. For cricket fans around the world, Durban 2007 remains the gold standard of six-hitting mastery.