Louis Kimber Setting New County Records
At 27, Louis Kimber delivered one of the most memorable innings in County Championship history, setting new county records. He scored the fastest double-hundred, reaching 200 in just 100 balls, hit a record 21 sixes, and set another record by scoring 43 runs in a single over off England seamer Ollie Robinson. The previous championship record of 38 runs per over, set in 1998 by Lancashire’s Andrew Flintoff against Surrey’s Alex Tudor, was shattered just two days ago when Lawrence took Bashir apart.
In the Robinson over, Louis Kimber (243 off 127 balls) scored a 62-ball hundred and continued to make a 100-delivery double century, which is the quickest in County Championship history. This feat beat the 123-ball score made by Aneurin Donald for Glamorgan against Derbyshire in 2016. Kimber hit a double century off just 100 balls on day four of the Division 1 match against Sussex. Kimber’s performance is second only to Afghanistan batter Shafiqullah Shinwari’s 89-ball effort in the Afghan first-class match between Kabul and the Boost region in 2017/18.
Record for Most Sixes in an Innings With Breaking Ben Stokes’ Record
Louis Kimber broke Ben Stokes’ 2022 Championship record with 21 sixes in an innings, surpassing Durham’s 17 against Worcestershire. What made it even more remarkable was Kimber’s record until today. He made his only previous century against Sussex in 2022 and averaged a modest 24.46, yet he cut, pulled, and drove the Sussex attack to distraction in an uninhibited display of power and timing, becoming the fourth-highest scorer by a No. 8 in first-class cricket.
Overcoming Challenges and Dominating the Pitch
Louis Kimber offered a difficult chance on 17 to Tom Alsop at slip, which burst through the fielder’s hands. Jack Carson nearly hung on to a ball struck with ferocious power over deep midwicket, which took Kimber to 150. Otherwise, Sussex’s bowlers had little success stopping his onslaught. Initially circumspect, Kimber scored 26 off his first 30 balls before a calculated assault on off-spinner Carson, whom he hit for 20 in an over, took him to a 37-ball fifty.
Targeting the short scoreboard-side boundary, Kimber forced Sussex skipper John Simpson to revert to his most experienced seamer. Robinson conceded four runs in his first two overs, but Louis Kimber unleashed in his third over, hitting two sixes and six fours, the fifth of which he cut low past cover to bring up a 62-ball hundred. Even when Robinson went fuller, Kimber made room to smash him through the covers before taking a single off the last ball to keep the strike.
Also Read: Umesh Yadav’s Stint in County Cricket: A Strategic Move for WTC 2023-25 Preparations?
Relentless Assault and Record-breaking Runs
As the carnage continued, Louis Kimber added his next 50 runs from just 19 deliveries. In the penultimate over before lunch, Fynn Hudson-Prentice was taken for 20, with the session producing 216 runs in 29 overs. Robinson returned after lunch, but Kimber reached his double-hundred by swatting him over long-on for his 17th six. The stand had been worth 239 in just 27 overs – a new Leicestershire eighth-wicket record – when Robinson pinned Ben Cox with an inswinger, Cox having contributed 34.
With Leicestershire needing 29 to win and Hull, who averages 3.25, for company, Kimber had no option but to go for broke. His 21st six off Robinson sailed over long-on, but in the next over, McAndrew had the final word. Louis Kimber’s record-breaking innings will be remembered as one of the greatest in County Championship history.
Also Read: County Cricket: All matches end in draws for only third time in history
