5 overs in cricket that never seemed to end

1. Bert Vance (Wellington) – 22-ball over against Canterbury in a first-class match

Vance was primarily a batsman (Image Credit: ESPNCricinfo)

Bert Vance is a former cricketer who represented New Zealand in 4 Tests and 8 ODIs between the years 1988 and 1989. Vance can be described as a utility player whose batting was better than his bowling. The Kiwi cricketer has his name etched in the record books for a record that he will surely not be too proud of.

During a first-class match in New Zealand between Wellington and Canterbury, the latter team needed 96 to win with 2 wickets in hand and just 2 overs left to play. With a draw being the most likely result, the opposition captain decided to toss the ball towards part-timer Bert Vance. Little did he know that it would turn out to be a costly mistake of epic proportions.

In a 22-ball over, Vance bowled as many as 16 no-balls in his first 17 deliveries and eventually ended up conceding an impossible 77 runs in a single over. This left Canterbury with 18 runs to score off the last over and wicketkeeper-batsman Lee Germon took them home.