Guinness world record for Rwandan cricket possible

Alby Shale poses next to a timer after batting for 26 hours at the Kennigton Oval cricket club in London, on Tuesday. The world record attempt was in aid of the Rwanda Cricket Stadium Foundation. AndrShow more

LONDON // A British graduate collapsed in a heap on Tuesday at the Kennington Oval cricket ground in London after batting for 26 hours while setting an apparent world record.

Alby Shale, 22, from Oxfordshire in southern England, began his marathon stand in the indoor nets at 6.45am on Monday and finally declared his innings at 8.45am on Tuesday.

The attempt was in aid of the Rwanda Cricket Stadium Foundation – a charity established to build the first proper cricket ground in the African country.

The previous batting record of 25 hours was set in October by Australian batsman Jade Child.

Shale, who has just graduated from Newcastle University, is now waiting for the Guinness World Records to go through the documentation and confirm his new mark.

“At the final ball, he just sort of collapsed into a heap and everyone piled in on top of him,” a spokesman for the attempt told AFP.

Shale faced around 200 bowlers in his spell at the crease — including Prime Minister David Cameron, who turned up for a few overs. The rules set down by Guinness World Records allowed only a five-minute break for every full hour completed — to refuel and go to the toilet.

While Shale toiled away in the nets on Monday, out on the pitch, visitors Essex beat Surrey by eight wickets in a Twenty20 match, with former Ricky Ponting, the Australia captain, scoring 65 for the hosts.

– Agence France-Presse