A YOUNG cricketer has joined the sport's legends after batting a remarkable over.

Anthony McMahon scored six sixes in a row, a feat which equals the achievements of some of the sport's greatest heroes.

He ranks alongside cricket legend Sir Garfield Sobers and Ravi Schastri, who both managed to score 36 off six balls.

But despite his achievement, Anthony's team, Chester-le-Street Under 13s, still lost the match at Eppleton, near Houghton-Le-Spring, Wearside.

But the defeat meant little after the his innings of 54.

He is proud of his achievement, but said he had to work hard for the sixes, especially towards the end of the over as the pressure grew.

He said: "The bowler was quite quick and probably one of their better players to be honest, so it was not easy.

"By the fourth ball, I think they could see that it was possible what could happen, so the fielders closed in and might have been trying to put me off."

The 13-year-old has been playing the game since he was seven, and is a sporting all-rounder.

As well as playing cricket, he is also a member of the Newcastle United FC Academy and was part of the Durham team which took part in last year's junior London Marathon.

But despite his sporting prowess, proud father Peter, who was umpiring the match, said he was stunned at his son's perfect score.

He said: "I have been playing cricket all my life and I have never seen anything like it.

"The Eppleton players were urging their bowler not to let Anthony get the sixes, but there was nothing he could do."

Anthony's sixes ensure he is crowned The Northern Echo's inaugural Cricketer of the Month and is now in the running for the overall award.

* See Friday's Local Heroes for more details of The Northern Echo Cricketer of the Month award.