Whiteley hits six sixes in an over to steal Willey’s thunder

ESPNCricinfo: Worcestershire’s Ross Whiteley hit six sixes in an over after David Willey had blasted a stunning career best 118 as Yorkshire won a high-scoring NatWest T20 Blast clash at Headingley.

Willey sent records tumbling with a 55-ball assault as the Vikings, invited to bat, posted a county-best 233 for 6 from their 20 overs. Fellow left-hander Whiteley then hit novice left-arm spinner Karl Carver over the ropes six times in the 16th over, which included a wide.

That took the score to 173 for 4, but he fell for 65 off 26 balls as the Rapids finished on 196 for 7, a 37-run defeat.

Sheffield-born Whiteley becomes the sixth man to hit achieve the feat in world cricket, including Lancashire’s Jordan Clark, who did it in a second-team game against Yorkshire in 2013.

Whiteley said: “It was the right time in the game for me to go for it. It was all or nothing. Unfortunately for the bowler it was a short boundary on the leg-side.

“I had the mentality that I was going to go for it before I got in. I hit the first out of the screws and needed to keep going for the team, not for that achievement. It’s something I never really thought I’d do in professional cricket.

“Personal milestone are great, but it’s hard to get away from the defeat. It’s pretty tough to take. We’ve lost four out of five and are right down at the bottom. Obviously we have to bounce back. There’s no reason why we can’t.”

England limited-overs all-rounder Willey hit nine fours and eight sixes, helping to take 34 off John Hastings in the 17th over as he reached his second ton off 49 balls.

It was Yorkshire’s record individual score and the highest in the Blast this season. It was also the highest by any team this season and their record score, beating 227 for 5 against Notts earlier this month.

Chief Scores: Yorkshire 233 for 6 (Willey 118) beat Worcestershire 196 for 7 (Whiteley 65, Clarke 51) by 37 runs