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Somerset's Overton brothers rewrite record books with 10th-wicket stand

Jamie and Craig Overton: Somerset brothers shared 76 for the 10th wicket against Yorkshire
Image: Jamie and Craig Overton: Somerset brothers shared 76 for the 10th wicket against Yorkshire

Somerset tail-ender Jamie Overton had statisticians reaching for the record books after his heroics against Yorkshire on Tuesday.

Somerset's No 11 clouted 50 from just 18 balls on day three of the County Championship game at Taunton - and did so with his brother Craig chipping in valuable runs at the other end.

The siblings shared 76 for Somerset's 10th wicket, another feat to warrant closer inspection, so we asked Sky Sports' resident cricket stats man Benedict Bermange to run the rule over their performances.

The methods of measuring records has changed over the years but, according to Benedict, Jamie Overton's half-century is the quickest in first-class cricket since balls-faced was introduced as the standard measure.

Steve (L) and Mark Waugh: Australian twins hold record for highest stand between brothers
Image: Steve (L) and Mark Waugh: Australian twins hold record for highest stand between brothers

Previously, minutes-batted was the preferred measurement, and while records indicate a certain Jim Smith of Middlesex probably took just 12 balls over his 50 against Gloucestershire in 1938, he was batting at No 10.

The Overtons' partnership, meanwhile, appears to be the highest 10th wicket stand between brothers, although the pair's 76 pales in comparison next to the overall record between brothers.

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That belongs to Australia's great twins Mark and Steve Waugh, who shared an unbroken 464 for the fifth wicket while playing for New South Wales against Western Australia at Perth in December 1990.

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