In an unbelievable display of strokeplay, England fast bowler David Willey hit seven sixes, scoring 131 runs and came back to pick up four wickets to lead his side Yorkshire to a 16-run win in a Royal London One-day Cup match against Lancashire at Manchester.
Coming in to bat at No.3, Willey, who is known more for his left-arm medium, scored at a strike rate of 137.89, hitting seven sixes, including the biggest of the day to take Yorkshire to 379 for, batting first.
Willey, given free license to go after the bowling, literally toyed with Lancashire bowlers. He put up a 235-run stand for the second wicket with Adam Lyth, who top scored with 144.
Willey represented the Chennai Super Kings in the recently concluded IPL, in which they emrged as the winners.
Playing also in this match was India’s Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara, who unfortunately got run out for 19 in a batting paradise.
Star of the day, Willey was not done yet. When every other bowler was going out of the park, he starred for his side with the ball too, picking up four wickets in 10 overs, maintaining an economy rate of 5.9.
Lancashire, led by Livingstone’s 44-ball 79 threatened to overhaul the target but in the end fell short by 16 runs as none of their batters could go on and get big hundreds like Lyth and Willey did for Yorkshire.