DURBAN: A scintillating Yuvraj Singh hit six sixes in an over en route to his 14-ball 58 against England to keep alive India's semifinal hopes in the Twenty20 cricket World Cup here on Wednesday night. In reply to India's imposing 218 for four, England managed 200 losing six wickets, with Vikram Solanki (43) for them and Kevin Pietersen contributing 39.
For India, Irfan Pathan grabbed three for 37, while RP Singh got two for 28. The day, however, belonged to Yuvraj, who set Kingsmead on fire, hitting six sixes in a Stuart Broad over and his batting pyrotechnics propelled India to an imposing total. After Delhi duo Virender Sehwag (68,52b,4x4,3x6) and Gautam Gambhir (58,41b,7x4,1x6) laid the foundation with an opening stand of 136 runs, Yuvraj (58,16b,3x4,7x6) light up the stadium with the fastest fifty in Twenty20 that came off just 12 balls and included three fours and six sixes.
He also became the first batsman to hit six successive sixes in Twenty20, and the second, after Herschelle Gibbs, in one dayers. It was mayhem in the 19th over as Yuvraj hit Broad's first ball over wide long on and followed by a flick that sailed over square leg.
The third vanished over extra cover, fourth cleared backward point, fifth soared over mid-wicket and the sixth was smacked over mid-on to complete the over. India, meanwhile, have little time to rejoice as they need to win tomorrow's match against South Africa to open up a three-way tie for semifinals when run rates would come it account.
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