London [UK], May 6 (ANI): England test captain and Durham all-rounder Ben Stokes smashed a county cricket record-breaking 17 sixes on Friday.

He broke the record set by Australian hard-hitter Andrew Symonds, who represented Gloucestershire and smashed Glamorgan for 16 sixes in 1995. In addition to Symonds, Graham Napier of Essex County smacked Surrey for 16 sixes in a single county cricket innings in 2011.

He accomplished this milestone during his side’s encounter against Worcestershire in the County Championship Division Two 2022 at New Road in Worcester.

The Englishman’s spectacular knock also included an onslaught in the 117th over of the game, in which he hammered spinner Josh Baker for a stunning 6,6,6,6,6,4 in a single over. Stokes progressed from 70 (59) to 100 as a result of this (64).

Worcestershire captain and spinner Brett D’Oliveira eventually removed the all-rounder. His final 88-ball 161 comprised 8 fours and 17 sixes.

Durham had 580/6 declared in 128 overs at the innings break, with Ned Eckersley and Liam Trevaskis unbeaten on zero. Durham’s Sean Dickson (104), Keegan Petersen (50), captain Scott Borthwick (89), and David Bedingham (135) also scored well.

Worcestershire’s best bowler was paceman Ben Gibbon, who took 2/94 in 25 overs, four of which were maidens.

Notably, the England Cricket Board announced in April the appointment of all-rounder Ben Stokes as captain of the men’s Test team. Stokes became the 81st captain of the England men’s Test squad, succeeding Joe Root.

Brief Scores: Durham declared 580/6. (Ben Stokes 161, David Bedingham, Ben Gibbon 2/94) vs Worcestershire.