In an unexpected twist at the English County Championship, Test cricketer Ollie Robinson made headlines for all the wrong reasons when he conceded a staggering 43 runs in a single over for Sussex. This record-breaking over, peppered with sixes and fours by Leicestershire’s Louis Kimber, also included three no-balls, making it a nightmare over for Robinson.
Australian cricket fans might find this news particularly amusing, given Robinson’s reputation as a pantomime villain in recent Ashes series. The drama unfolded at Hove, near Brighton, as Kimber unleashed a relentless assault on Robinson, smashing the ball to all corners of the ground.
Remarkably, this disastrous over for Robinson came just two days after another bowler, Shoaib Bashir, faced a similar fate. Bashir, an England spinner playing for Worcestershire, was taken for 38 runs in an over by Surrey’s Dan Lawrence, who hammered five consecutive sixes.
Despite the onslaught, Robinson managed to pick up two wickets, finishing with figures of 2-105 off his 20 overs. His torment, however, could have been even greater if Kimber hadn’t scored just a single off the final ball of the over.
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Batting at No.8, the 27-year-old Kimber played a sensational knock, reaching his second County Championship century off just 62 balls. His incredible innings eventually ended at 243 from 127 balls when he edged onto his own stumps, with only the No.11 batter left for company. Kimber’s innings included 20 fours and 21 sixes, boasting a strike rate of 191.33—an extraordinary feat even by Twenty20 standards.
Leicestershire’s second-innings total of 445, highlighted by Kimber’s explosive batting, was a formidable chase. Yet, Division Two leader Sussex clinched victory by a mere 18 runs—a slim margin that offered some consolation to Robinson, who ended the match with five wickets to his name.
This match will be remembered not only for Sussex’s narrow win but also for the unforgettable and record-setting over that showcased the unpredictable and thrilling nature of cricket.
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