6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 1, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6: Salman Nizar's record-breaking show in KCL

Salman Nizar is the epitome of versatility in cricket. It would be hard to dispute if you witnessed what he did Saturday evening at the Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram in Calicut Globstars' 13-run win over Trivandrum Royals. 

Salman smashed 12 sixes in his unbeaten 86 off just 26 balls, including 40 runs in the final over of the Globstars innings. If one put his batting exploits in numbers, the sequence would go like this: 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 1, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6. That is 67 runs scored in 12 balls, a record in KCL, and worthy of rivalling any batting stats from across the world.

The Globstars went into the 19th over with a below-par score of 115/6 with Salman batting on 17 off 13 and Anfal on 2. Basil Thampi, a former IPL star, was the first to face the wrath of Salman, who hit five sixes in a row, twice over the mid-wicket, one over extra cover, another over long on, and one beyond deep backward point. He kept the strike and faced Abhijith Praveen in the final over.

The right-arm medium pacer was greeted with a six over long-off. The bowler panicked and delivered a wide, then a couple of no balls, but Salman was focused and smashed five more to treat the spectators. 

The runs accumulated by Salman proved to be more than useful for his team as the Royals came close, making 173, with Thampi attempting to make amends with a 9-ball 23. Akhil Scaria bagged 3/50, while Harikrishnan M U and Ibnul Afthab claimed two wickets each in the win. Earlier, M Ajnas scored a 50-ball 51 for the Globstars.  

What Salman showcased in the T20 event was in stark contrast to his patient approach -- as it often is the case -- in Kerala's incredible Ranji Trophy campaign last season. Salman famously held an 81-run partnership for the 10th wicket with Thampi (yes, the same guy) to give Kerala a handy 1-run lead in the quarterfinals against Jammu & Kashmir. He didn't stop there and played one of the gustiest innings of the first-class campaign, a 52 off 202 deliveries, which helped Kerala save the semifinal match against Gujarat and enter the Ranji Trophy final for the first time ever. He fended off everything Gujarat bowlers threw at him for over five hours on a hot February day in Ahmedabad. The diminutive batter from Thalassery was arguably the tallest personality in the Kerala dressing room as the state finished runners-up in the Ranji Trophy in Nagpur.

Salman has proven that he can smash sixes, and in great numbers, just as efficiently as he can defend, all for the team. Hope the IPL scouts took notice.