32-year-old Australian and Melbourne Stars batsman Hilton Cartwright stunned the cricket world with a huge six on Saturday 4 January.
Hilton Cartwright smashed a massive maximum delivery off 30-year-old Tom Rogers during the 23rd match of the 2024-25 Big Bash League (BBL) between Melbourne Renegades and Melbourne Star at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.
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Hilton Cartwright leads Melbourne Stars to epic victory
Melbourne Stars won the toss and invited Melbourne Renegades to bat first. The Stars bowling unit did well overall and managed to restrict the opposition to 168/7 in 20 overs.
Chasing the target, the Stars quickly lost three wickets but Ben Duckett stabilized the innings with a brilliant fifty while Marcus Stoinis scored a brilliant 48 that kept the Melbourne Stars in the match.
Then, Glenn Maxwell and Hilton Cartwright took over, and with 10 runs required from the last over, the latter hit a brutal six and four to seal a five-wicket win.
On the third ball of the 20th over, Tom Rogers attempted to throw a yorker outside the off stump but was missed by a shade. Cartwright stayed back and hit the ball full force for six.
The ball went straight to the second rung over a long period, and seeing the ball flying, even Cartwright was surprised when he formed an “O” in his mouth. The crowd went berserk after the hit and it was revealed a few minutes later that Hilton Cartwright had smashed a 121-metre six.
Watch: Hilton Cartwright, 121 meters long
Huge Hilton!
This is huge. Six 121m Hilton Cartwright. #Bubble14 pic.twitter.com/zCY6uNYyNB
– KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 4, 2025
Three times as much as I call – Ben Duckett at Hilton Cartwright Six
Ben Duckett was named player of the match for his 49-run innings of 67, and speaking after the match, he praised Hilton Cartwright and Glenn Maxwell for their fireworks in the final over that helped the Melbourne Stars to victory. He explained:
“It was tough at the beginning, we actually stumbled and we wanted to be there at the end. It didn't work out that way, but fortunately we got them (Cartwright and Maxwell) in. That's the strength in depth that we have. We know that.” We always have that and we wanted to take things deeper, Stoinis played beautifully, took all the pressure off me.
While talking about Hilton Cartwright's huge six, Ben Duckett said that the batsman has exceptional skills and is training to hit massive maximums in the nets. He said:
“(On Cartwright's six at the end and how big it was) three times as much as I called (smiles). I came in, trying to hit fours and sixes on this wicket, exceptional skills and very grateful that they were able to do it. In the nets, he (Cartwright?) hits them away and he “Very happy to be out today.”
Ben Duckett also spoke about his batting plans and said he is sticking to his strengths and added that he does not look at his time in the BBL as coaching for the Ashes in Australia. He said:
“Get rid of my ego, I can't do some of the things the big boys do and I try to stick to what I can. Fortunately, I can get the win. (At the Ashes in Australia) It's a long way to go. Trying to focus on what's in front of me. (On the Stars' qualifying hopes) “We've played some good cricket, we haven't done it all the way, but winning games like this is a big thing in competitions. We keep going, keep that momentum going, we'll keep believing.”
