Louis Kimber breaks a plethora of records with historic knock of 243 runs off just 127 balls

Louis Kimber, on Wednesday (June 26), smashed a historic double-century in the recently concluded game between Sussex and Leicestershire in the County Championship Division Two.

The right-handed batsman played a whirlwind knock of 243 runs from just 127 balls and shattered several records during his monumental knock. His innings was studded with 20 fours and a record 21 sixes. Before reaching his double-century, he also took England star Ollie Robinson to the cleaners, as the latter gave away a record 43 runs in an over.

Louis Kimber was batting on 72 runs off 56 balls when Robinson came to bowl the 59th over. By the time the over ended, the Leicestershire batter had raced away to 109 runs off just 65 balls. He hit Robinson for five sixes with three of them coming off no-balls and smashed him for three fours as well. It is the costliest over in the history of county cricket and the second costliest over in first-class cricket.

Louis Kimber continued his attack after the century as well and went on to complete his double-century in just 100 balls to register the fastest double-century in the history of county cricket. Overall, it is the second-fastest double-century in first-class cricket. Afghanistan's Shafiqullah currently holds the record for the fastest double-century in first-class cricket.

Fastest double-century in first-class cricket:

• Shafigullah - 89 balls, Kabul Region vs Boost Region, 2018
• Louis Kimber - 100 balls, Leicestershire vs Sussex, 2024
• Tanmay Agarwal - 119 balls, Hyderabad vs Arunachal, 2024
• Ravi Shastri - 123 balls, Bombay vs Baroda, 1985
• Aneurin Donald - 123 balls, Glamorgan vs Derbyshire, 2016

Louis Kimber also broke the record for most sixes in an innings in county cricket by hitting 21 maximums during his knock. The record was previously held by Ben Stokes for hitting 17 sixes in 2022. During the same knock, the 27-year-old also broke the record for the highest first-class score while batting at number 8 or lower.

Most sixes by a player in County Championship innings:

• 21 - Louis Kimber vs Sussex, 2024
• 17 - Ben Stokes vs Worcestershire, 2022
• 16 - Andrew Symonds vs Glamorgan, 1995
• 16 - Graham Napier vs Surrey, 2011

Louis Kimber's knock in vain:

While Louis Kimber played a knock for the ages, it eventually went in vain as Leicestershire lost the game by 18 runs. Chasing a record 464 runs, Leicestershire were bowled out for 446 with Kimber being the last wicket to fall.

Their chances of winning the game looked all but over after they were reduced to 175 for 7. However, Kimber singlehandedly changed the course of the game and nearly took his team to a historic win.

Sussex win the most incredible cricket match.

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