Eric Dusingizimana bats for 51 hours straight to set new world record

The Rwandan international cricket captain was bowled to by Tony Blair, Miss Rwanda and many others

Hanif Mohamed’s epic match-saving 337 against the West Indies in 1958, spanning three days play and lasting 16 hours and 10 minutes, is currently cricket’s longest innings – however that looks like a mere knock about in the garden when compared with the feats completed today by Eric Dusingizimana.

In an unbelievable display of endurance, the Rwandan international cricket captain batted for 51 hours straight to claim the Guinness World Record for the longest individual net session, beating a time of just over 50 hours set by Virag Mare in India last year.

Dusingizimana, who was bowled to by Tony Blair, Miss Rwanda and many, many more during the course of his epic net session, was raising money for the Rwanda Cricket Stadium Foundation – a charity set up to raise money and build the first dedicated international cricket ground in Rwanda.

His gargantuan stint at the crease began on the 11th May and finished earlier today and in total he batted for approximately five and a half hours longer than the entire Australian cricket team managed in the whole of the 2015 Ashes series.

Speaking after his efforts, Dusingizimana said: “I am so happy to have helped raise awareness for cricket in Rwanda and the work of the Rwanda Cricket Stadium Foundation (RCSF). We need to build the future of cricket in Rwanda, which is why the stadium is important. But we want also want to use the new facilities to help the sport unite our country and raise awareness about the importance of health and education.”

The charity, whose patrons include the Prime Minister David Cameron, West Indies legend Brian Lara and Test Match Special doyen Jonathan Agnew, is in fact no stranger to world records.

RCSF Project Director Alby Shale himself briefly held the world record for the longest net back in 2013, with a 26 hour batting session and in 2014 the charity was also involved in the highest-ever cricket match, 5730m up, at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Shale said: “I can’t believe the record is now nearly double what it was three years ago. Well done to Eric, it was a privilege to be a part of his wonderful achievement.”

Tony Blair, who was in Rwanda for the World Economic Forum on Africa, and bowled off a frugal two-pace run up, was similarly effusive in his praise.

“The last time I bowled was most likely at school, so it was great to have a bowl against Eric,” he said. “What he did is an incredible feat: batting for 51 hours non-stop and breaking the world record, and, in doing so, helping raise money for Rwanda’s first cricket stadium. So I offer my congratulations and wish him and the RCSF all the best as they look to build a better future for cricket in the country.”