[imagesource: Fiona Goodall/Getty Images]

The sporting adage goes that you’re only as good as your last match, but in the frenetic world of T20 cricket, things can change drastically in the space of an over.

Take this morning’s T20 international between the West Indies and Sri Lanka in Antigua, and the plight of Akila Dananjaya.

The Sri Lankan spinner took a hat-trick in his second over, which included the wicket of Chris Gayle, to curtail the Windies run chase.

Here are those three wickets:

Any day you take an international hat-trick is a good day, but then big-hitting T20 mercenary Kieron Pollard entered the fray.

The very next over Dananjaya bowled, Pollard became only the third international cricketer to hit six sixes off an over, joining Herschelle Gibbs and Yuvraj Singh.

Herschelle plundered Dutch leggie Daan van Bunge for 36 at the 2007 World Cup (50-over matches), and a few months later, Yuvraj Singh carted Stuart Broad all over the show during the 2007 T20 World Cup.

Let’s see Pollard in action:

You will never have a better Mastercard Priceless Moment than this one! 👌🏾 @KieronPollard55 became the 1st West Indian to hit 6 sixes in a T20I over!#WIvSL #MastercardPricelessMoment #MenInMaroon pic.twitter.com/YOGItXOY8H

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) March 4, 2021

It’s safe to say his teammates enjoyed watching the show:

Skipper @KieronPollard55 hits six 6’s in the 6th over of the match! 💥

Watch as the #MenInMaroon celebrate #WIvSL 🏏🌴 pic.twitter.com/ooU9D7QqoO

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) March 4, 2021

Cool, but could Pollard do it with a hangover at the Bullring when 435 is needed for victory?

It wasn’t long before Herschelle sent his congrats to the latest member of the 36 club:

 

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A post shared by Herschelle Gibbs (@herschellegibbs)

According to India Today, Pollard knew he was in with a shout after the third six:

“I felt after hitting a couple of sixes, I understood how the pitch plays, it was important to be positive and play your shots,” Pollard said. “Back yourselves to clear the boundary.

“A couple of things went through my mind before the sixth ball, I thought should I go for the six or take the 30 runs in the over, he went around the wicket and bowled it onto my pads, I told myself ‘Wait Polly, take a chance’.

“That’s how I have played my cricket all along, especially against the spinners.”

When the men’s T20 World Cup finally takes place (it’s currently slated for October and November this year, in India), the Windies will fancy themselves to compete with the best.

You can watch the full T20I highlights below, with Pollard’s six-hitting starting from the 10:35 mark:

[source:indiatoday]