This day, that year: when Yuvraj Singh smashed six sixes off Stuart Broad

Yuvraj Singh might have been out of action for Team India for quite sometime now, but the destructive left-hander will always be remembered for the epic pasting he handed to England seamer Stuart Broad on 19 September, during the India vs England clash in the 2007 World T20.

It was on this unforgettable day at Kingsmead that Yuvraj etched his name into the record books by hitting six consecutive sixes in an over off a hapless Broad in South Africa. It was the fourth time in the history of cricket, but first in T20 Internationals (T20Is) that a batsman hit a six off each of the six balls of an over.

After deciding to bat, India got off to a solid start with the opening pair of Virender Sehwag (68) and Gautam Gambhir (58) hammering the opposition bowlers to all parts of the ground. Team India was cruising at 136/0 when Chris Tremlett rattled the stumps to get rid of the dangerous Virender Sehwag.

After losing Sehwag, India lost two quick wickets of Gambhir and Robin Uthappa (6) as England looked poised to make a comeback in the death overs. However, against the popular perception, the Paul Collingwood-led side ran into the Punjab southpaw and the rest is history.

Coming in to bat with India reeling at 155/3 and just 20 balls left, Yuvraj was expected to help his skipper Dhoni to boost their team's scoring rate in the death overs. But what actually unfolded at the Kingsmead stadium was pure masterclass.

Yuvraj had scored 14 runs off six balls when Andrew Flintoff provoked the left-hander and the duo exchanged a few words at the end of the 18th over. With just two overs to go, the Indian brigade was eyeing a final flourish which was adequately delivered by Yuvraj - courtesy Flintoff.

A charged up Yuvraj smashed the first delivery of Broad's final over out of the stadium for the longest six in the match. The second ball was flicked behind square for another six. On the third delivery, Yuvraj made some room and bludgeoned it over extra cover for six more. Having conceded 18 runs in three balls, Broad changed his angle to around the stumps, but to no avail. The fourth delivery, a full toss, was slashed over the backward point fence by Yuvraj as the crowd went berserk.

Four deliveries and four sixes; the spectators inside the stadium and a billion fans watching history unfold on TV knew something special was on cards. And, on the fifth delivery, Yuvraj bent his knee and heaved the ball over midwicket for his fifth consecutive six to the utter dismay of England and more importantly, to the sheer disappointment of Broad.

Ravi Shastri, one of the four rare batsmen to have hit six sixes in an over, was in raptures while commentating during the game. It was the final delivery of Broad's over, which was to be remembered for years to come, when Yuvraj smoked the half-volley over midwicket to make it six sixes in a row.

The crowd erupted in joy, commentators were out of breath, Dhoni was all smiles and Broad had nowhere to hide. The sixth six also brought up Yuvraj's half-century in a record 12 balls - fastest in the history of T20Is. Yuvraj, who scored 58 runs off 16 balls with three fours and seven sixes, was finally dismissed on the second last delivery of India's innings by none other than Flintoff, but the damage was already done.

In response to India's mammoth total of 218 runs, Vikram Solanki (43) and Kevin Pietersen (39) kept going for England who eventually fell short by 18 runs in the end. Poignantly, England were 171/5 after 18 overs - the same score India had been at after 18th over before Yuvraj ransacked 36 runs from Broad's over.