Banchory captain and opening batsman Sam Rotheram became the first man in Grades cricket to hit six sixes in an over when in his side’s Grade 2 fixture at Kessock Park against home side Fraserburgh he wrote himself into the record book.
The feat of scoring a maximum in an over had never before been achieved in the 141 year history of Grades cricket, leaving both sides in a state of awe at the striking power of the 44 year old from Sheffield, although Alan Rennie the hapless home bowler who had been mercilessly thrashed all over the Links ground was not surprisingly in a state of shock after his six ball mauling.
Rotheram who has a reputation for big hitting was delighted by his achievement, but said: ”After I hit the first one straight down the ground in the third over, I felt in the groove, and when I hooked the second over the pavilion. I recalled the standing joke at the club in which we said if the first two balls have gone for six, the maximum is on. So it proved to be the case, although I didn’t quite middle the fourth delivery. Throughout the over there was lots of banter from the home side, but it was all in the best spirit of the game. It was a great day out, and most enjoyable.”
Not content with his maximum haul, the Banchory skipper raced to his half century in 13 balls, top scoring for the visitors with 82 before being caught in the deep off the bowling of Ziaudin Uryakhil. In the meantime the gallant Rennie finished his opening spell, coming back in style, winning the admiration of both sides when he took three wickets for 16 runs in his second spell.
”Effectively, Alan won us the game; for despite the early mauling we stuck to the task, overhauling Banchory’s 170 for the loss of only four wickets,” said former captain Liam Bowie who chipped in with an unbeaten 29, though it was Chris Gospel’s 55 which saw the side home. Bowie paid tribute to Rotheram’s amazing knock,”never in 25 years of playing the game have I seen anything like it. It was a sight to behold. It was a great, and most enjoyable day in the long history of the game in the North – East,” added Bowie.
The innings may well serve to be an inspiration to the many juniors in both sides, winning a place in the history books of an area steeped in history.
As for Alan Rennie, he can take consolation from the fact his side had the last word, while reflecting on the case of Malcom Nash who years after being hit for 36 in one over by the legendary Gary Sobers at a county game in Glamorgan in 1968 went on to enjoy a close friendship with the icon of the West Indies game, while retaining the respect of his own supporters.
For the record nine maximums have been scored in the professional game, but for Paul Gray, the secretary to the North East Scotland Cricket SCIO, July 5, 2025 will remain a day to cherish in the local game. ”Given the modern day style of batting it feels like it won’t take another 141 years for the feat to be repeated. Sam scored a century earlier in the season against Portcullis, and next up for Banchory are Portcullis at Duthie Park” he said.