India's Yuvraj smashes six sixes

Yuvraj is the first to achieve the feat in the shortest form of cricket

Yuvraj Singh became the first player in Twenty20 history to hit six sixes in an over in India's match against England.

Stuart Broad was the luckless bowler in the World Twenty20 Super Eights match.

The devastating barrage from Yuvraj, 25, helped him reach his half-century off just 12 balls - the fastest 50 ever in international cricket.

Sir Gary Sobers was the first to hit six sixes in an over in first-class cricket while Herschelle Gibbs managed it in a one-day international.

Interview: India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh

West Indies legend Sobers made history while playing for Nottinghamshire against Glamorgan's Malcolm Nash in Swansea in 1968.

Gibbs' landmark came against Netherlands bowler Daan van Bunge during a World Cup group match earlier this year.

Yuvraj's onslaught in Durban began in the 18th over when he hit consecutive fours off Andrew Flintoff before appearing to square up to the England all-rounder.

A fired-up Yuvraj then took out his anger on 21-year-old Broad in the 19th over.

19th over - Broad to Yuvraj:

Ball one - hoicks over cow corner, between midwicket and mid-on

Ball two - flicks off the legs, into the crowd beyond backward square leg

Ball three - steps to leg and smashes the ball over extra cover

Ball four - wide full toss steered over backward point

Ball five - thrashes over midwicket, down on one knee

Ball six - leans back and smacks over wide mid-on

606: DEBATE Hats off to some superb hitting bigus100

Asked what had gone through his mind as he went out to bat, Yuvraj joked: "Just go out there and slog."

He added: "With two overs to go and wickets in hand I thought I would use the crease. I was moving around the crease and timing it well."

Yuvraj himself was hit for five sixes in an over by England all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas in a one-dayer at The Oval earlier this month.

"It's a horrible feeling," admitted Yuvraj.

"I'm not even a bowler and Stuart Broad is obviously one of their main bowlers and I feel sorry for him because I had a horrible day.

"Personally it's a great feeling. To hit six sixes off a main bowler is great and I thank God.

"When I got hit for five sixes I got so many phone calls. Nobody called me when I used to get a hundred and I got a load of them making fun of me so I thought that wasn't right and I wanted to give it back."

Yuvraj's team-mate Virender Sehwag said it was an "awesome" achievement.

"It was the fastest 50 for India, it's a world record for six sixes," he said.

"He has a lot of power so he can hit it wherever he wants, he was awesome."