England seamer Ollie Robinson found himself in an unwanted record book on Wednesday, as he conceded the second-costliest over in First-Class cricket history during a County Championship match. Playing for Sussex against Leicestershire in a Division Two fixture at the County Ground in Hove, Robinson endured a tumultuous over that saw him hemorrhage 43 runs in just nine deliveries.
The 30-year-old, who has represented England in 20 Tests since his debut in 2021, was taken to the cleaners by Leicestershire’s Louis Kimber. Kimber, batting aggressively on 72 from 56 balls, unleashed a barrage of boundaries and sixes, including three off no-balls. By the time Robinson completed his over, Kimber had raced to an unbeaten 109 off a mere 65 deliveries, with Ben Cox at the other end.
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The figures from Robinson’s infamous 13th over read like a nightmare for any bowler: 6, 6nb, 4, 6, 4, 6nb, 4, 6nb, 1. This not only reset the record for the most runs conceded by an English bowler in an over but also surpassed the previous mark set by Alex Tudor, who had conceded 38 runs in an over back in 1998.
LOUIS KIMBER HAS TAKEN 43 OFF AN OVER pic.twitter.com/kQ4cLUhKN9
— Vitality County Championship (@CountyChamp) June 26, 2024
In the annals of First-Class cricket, Robinson’s over stands as the second most expensive ever, trailing only behind Robert Vance’s calamitous 77-run over in a Shell Trophy match between Wellington and Canterbury in 1989-1990. Vance, an off-break bowler from New Zealand, bowled a staggering 17 no-balls during that over, illustrating the extreme nature of his misfortune.
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The incident serves as a stark reminder of the fine margins in cricket and the unpredictable nature of the game. Despite this setback, Robinson remains a key figure for Sussex and England, known for his resilience and ability to bounce back from challenges on the field.
Most runs conceded in an over in first-class cricket:
- Robert Vance – 77 runs – Wellington vs Canterbury (1989-90)
- Olllie Robinson – 43 runs – Sussex vs Leicestershire (2024)
- Alex Tudor – 38 runs – Surrey vs Lancashire (1998)
- Shoaib Bashir – 38 runs – Worcestershire vs Surrey (2024)
- Malcolm Nash – 36 runs – Glamorgan vs Nottinghamshire (1968)
- Tilak Raj – 36 runs – Baroda vs Bombay (1984-85)
