Misbah's six sixes twist tuk tuk tale

For a team historically known for their flamboyantly uninhibited brand of cricket, Misbah-ul-Haq's restrained, risk-averse mode of batting has perennially struggled to sit well the Pakistani fans. For the larger part of his career, Misbah's defensive strokeplay has given rise to imaginative witticisms - often snide - with his style of batting becoming synonymous with what is known as "tuk tuk" cricket in Pakistan.

While his captaincy and retirement plans continue to be a constant subject of speculation, the third fixture of the Hong Kong T20 Blitz saw him produce a most dramatic antithesis to his age and recent form.

Misbah, the Hong Kong Island United captain, waltzed six consecutive sixes across the last two overs of the innings, ending with a jaw-dropping 37-ball 82. His knock, studded with four fours and seven sixes, set up his team's 33-run win against Hung Hom Jaguars.

Batting on 42 - a number he has been reminded of more frequently in the last few months than ever before - Misbah swung a full toss from compatriot Imran Arif over deep square leg on the fifth ball of the 19th over. A couple of understated taps on the pitch, followed by a brief chat with the non-striker Saeed Ajmal, preceded the second delivery.

Misbah cleared his front leg to dispatch the next delivery - on length and on middle and leg - over the long-on boundary.

Ajmal's single off the first ball of the final over meant that Misbah would have the remaining five balls to lay claim to the record of six straight sixes that has been previously achieved by Yuvraj Singh, Herschelle Gibbs, Garfield Sobers, Ravi Shastri, Jordan Clark and, most recently, Alex Hales.

Having brought up his half-century off 32 balls, Misbah clobbered left-arm quick Ashley Caddy for four more sixes, the fourth one finding its way out of the main stand. To top those, he ended the over with a four to take the over's tally to 29.

The second-fastest century in Tests, and now six consecutive sixes.

"Tuk tuk", who?