Clive Inman’s world record of 50 runs in eight minutes

Gerard Puvinayagam

Clive Inman was a brilliant left handed batsman of St. Peters’ College Bambalapitiya.

He captained College in 1954 and 1955. In the Annual Josephain/Peterite encounter in 1954 he scored 204 runs (Retired Hurt) at the Colombo Oval.

He played for Ceylon from 1956 to 1959 verses MCC in 1966-1967. Subsequently he went to England to play county cricket for Leicestershire heading the batting averages.

His record was over 10,000 runs. He holds the world record of scoring the fastest 50 in just eight minutes against Nottinghamshire at Nottingham in 1965. In this match that took him to the top, he was out for 8 runs in 1st innings.

In the 2nd innings when Lestershire were 199 for 3 wickets, he took a single off the last ball of Bolus. He then hit Norman Hill for 4,4,4,6 totalling 18 runs in that over. In Norman Hills next over he scored 4,6,6,6,4,6 a total of 32 runs to equal the record (5 fours + 5 sixes off 10 balls.

Inman was 34 years of age heading the batting averages from 1963 to 1969. On leaving school he represented the NCC at Maitlaid Crescent – Colombo.

The match that will take him down memory lane is the Gillette Cup encounter between Leicestershire and Yorkshire in 1965. The Yorkshire team included Captain Ray Illingworth players, Geoff Boycott, J. H. Hamshir, Phil Sharpe, Brian Close and Fred Truman.

Inman’s match with Nottingamshire as his benefit for his world record attracted World XI of West Indies Captain and allrounder Gary Sobers leading Nottinghamshire.