CRICKETER Matthew Bennett is celebrating after blasting himself into the local sports history books by hitting six sixes off one over.

The 24-year-old matched the achievement of West Indies legend Sir Gary Sobers when his Herriard side faced Sun Life of Canada in the North Hampshire evening cricket league last week.

Bennett hit six consecutive sixes in a seven-ball over on his way to his best-ever league score of 64.

His onslaught against the bowling of Graham Jackson (Jacko) helped Herriard to a six-wicket win.

The over started with Bennett nine not out. By the end of it he had advanced his score to 45.

Jackson's first ball yielded no score but his second was a no ball, which Bennett hit for his first six. After that, there was no stopping him.

Bennett said: "I went a little bit crazy then - and Jacko lost the plot. Not surprisingly, they took him off after that.

"I did buy him a drink after the match, though. I didn't realise what I had done until afterwards. It just didn't sink in."

Sun Life of Canada made 120-7 in 16 overs with Bishop scoring 45 and Goddard claiming 3-39. Herriard achieved their winning total after 15 overs.

The unlucky Jackson - the captain of Hartley Wintney Sunday second XI who plays for Sun Life of Canada in the midweek league - said: "It was not my best performance but, as a slow bowler, these things happen sometimes.

"I suppose the red mist came down and it did not matter where I put the ball because he seemed to be there."

Jackson has witnessed another player being hit for 36 in an over. He recalled: "That was about eight years ago and happened to Chris Stanley playing for Hartley Wintney against Chessington in a friendly game."

Being smashed around the ground has not put him off bowling. He said: "That's just cricket."

He added: "I've been hammered around before in the midweek league by Keith Lovelock of Hook when he scored 28 in an over. Five catches were dropped then and two of them were palmed over for sixes. That's the way it goes and you just have to accept it."