The bat used by Sir Garfield Sobers to hit six consecutive sixes in a single over has been sold for a record �54,257 at an auction in Melbourne.

Another bat, the one Sobers used to score a then world record 365 against Pakistan in Kingston in 1958, was also sold for �47,476 at Christie's in the Australian city.

The prices were almost three times the previous world record auction bid for a cricket bat set at Phillips in London.

Anonymous buyer

Both bats, which had been on display at Nottinghamshire Cricket Club until recently, were purchased by an anonymous buyer at an auction of sporting memorabilia in Australia.

Sobers became the first cricketer to hit six sixes in an over off the bowling of Glamorgan's Malcolm Nash in a county game in 1968.

Nash saw his first two deliveries disappear into the stands of the Cricketer's Inn.

The third went into the pavilion enclosure and the fourth was sent over the scoreboard.

The fifth was driven straight and although Roger Davis caught it he fell over the boundary in the process, causing another six to be signalled.

On the last delivery wicket-keeeper Eifion Jones famously bet Sobers that he couldn't make it six out of six.

But Sobers simply grinned - and hit the ball out of the ground into a nearby street.

The two bats will now be sent to Christie's sales room London for collection.