South African seam bowler Kyle Abbott recorded the best match figures in first-class cricket this century for English county side Hampshire.
Jim Laker’s famous 19/90 in the 1956 Manchester Old Trafford Test.
After picking up 9/40 in the first innings, even the 21st century, Abbott ran through the Somerset batting line-up to take 8/46 in the second innings to help , 17 wickets in a match after John Davison’s haul for Canada against USA back in 2004.
WICKET & CLOSE: @Kyle_Abbott87 wraps this match up taking Davey's off stump, leaving @SomersetCCC all out for 1⃣4⃣4⃣!
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) September 18, 2019
Hampshire win their final home match of the season by 136 runs 🙌
Abbo breaks Hampshire's record for most wickets taken in a match with 17 wickets! pic.twitter.com/ELFNxideqY
In a single match, a single bowler’s bow tie was made in a single bowler hatchback.
Speaking to the BBC about his performance, Abbott, who last represented South Africa in January 2017, admitted he had not realized the enormity of his achievement. “It’s not quite sunk in. It’s pretty incredible,” said Abbott.
“Yesterday I did not think I’d take nine and I did not think I’d take eight today. I reckon that is the best I can bowl. Everything I wanted to do. It just happened to be one of those days – it was incredible. When it started to reverse it got quite fun. “
3⃣5⃣.2⃣Overs
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) September 18, 2019
1⃣2⃣ Maidens
8⃣6⃣ Runs
1⃣7⃣ Wickets
Purely sensational from @Kyle_Abbott87 who's figures are the best by any Hampshire bowler of all time & the 4⃣th best in @CountyChamp history 👏 pic.twitter.com/FJNA8IYk3s
Abbott’s display across the match had major ramifications for Somerset’s County Championship aspirations. Essex, her Abbott-induced defeat leaves them 12 points behind Essex with one round of fixtures to go.
