What Just Happened? The Craziest Over in Cricket History!

Imagine a cricket match where one bowler's performance is so disastrous that it becomes the stuff of legends—but not in a good way! During the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025, Australian bowler John Hastings delivered what could only be described as a circus act, throwing a mind-boggling 18-ball over against the Pakistan Champions at Grace Road, Leicester. It was a spectacle that left cricket fans reeling and laughing in disbelief.
On a sunny Tuesday, Pakistan was cruising to a seemingly easy victory, needing just 75 runs to claim the game. They had already established a strong position at 55/0 in the seventh over when Hastings was called to the bowling crease. What ensued was one of the longest, most confounding overs recorded in the sport's history.
To kick things off, Hastings completely lost his line, delivering five consecutive wides that sailed far outside the off-stump, leaving the batsman Sohaib Maqsood with no choice but to watch as the ball drifted away. The chaos didn’t stop there. After a single, Sharjeel Khan contributed to the madness with a boundary—followed by yet another no-ball and a wide delivery that went outside leg stump. It was like watching a comedy show unfold!
As he struggled to find any semblance of control, Hastings switched to bowling around the wicket, but it was more of the same: three additional wides followed by more extras that kept piling up. As the over wore on, Hastings' desperation was palpable, and the ball continued to stray far from the stumps. In total, his over accounted for 12 wides and one no-ball, and it was never even completed, as Pakistan reached their target well before the over could finish.
Earlier in the match, Pakistan's bowlers had dismantled the Australian Champions, limiting them to a mere 74 runs. Saeed Ajmal shone brightly, taking 6 wickets for just 16 runs, supported by a brilliant spell from Imad Wasim. Australia experienced a shocking collapse, losing eight wickets for just 25 runs after initially looking solid at 49/2.
In response, openers Sharjeel Khan (32 not out) and Sohaib Maqsood (28 not out) made the chase seem almost effortless, sealing a 10-wicket victory in just 7.5 overs. Hastings' infamous over will now forever be etched in cricket folklore—not for any heroic deeds, but as a surreal episode that left fans shaking their heads and chuckling in disbelief.