Numbers rule at KFC Big Bash
As the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash hosts it’s finale on Saturday, the Australian fans have given the tournament the much-needed life by turning up in abundance.
According to Fox Sports, the event had 290,868 spectators flocking to the stadiums in the 16 matches leading up to Saturday’s final. It is an increase by 80 per cent, making it one of the most-watched competitions.
A record was set when 43,125 fans turned up at the MCG on January 15 to see the Victorian Bushrangers beat Tasmanian Tigers by nine-wickets. Brad Hodge smashed 90 off 56 balls to cruise Victoria home.
According to the channel, the average strike-rate in the Big Bash was a commanding 128.25 and a six was hit every 25 balls.
The bowlers too were effective, on an average they picked up a wicket every 16 balls.
A figure much better than Test cricket.
"We're pretty sure that 10 years from now we'll be talking about Test cricket, 50-over cricket and Twenty20 cricket as giving cricket the unique proposition of having three distinctive formats," a Cricket Australia spokesperson told foxsports.com.au.
During the preliminary final between the Bushrangers and the Queensland Bulls, 256,000 viewers tuned in.
Bulls’ James Hopes has scored most runs at 185 in the tournament so far, closely followed by Shaun Marsh at 175. Hopes has also hit maximum number fours at 21.
Marsh scored the lone century in the tournament, an unbeaten 108 against the New South Wales Blues.
So far in the competition, 137 sixes have been hit, the most coming from David Warner’s bat. The Blues opener has hit 14 sixes and has the highest strike-rate of 232.88.
Over to the bowlers and Bulls overseas import Daniel Vettori has been most economical at 5.17.
Tasmania’s Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Brett Geeves have picked hat-tricks each in consecutive matches. The Pakistan fast bowler, Naved-ul-Hasan, has picked up nine wickets from five matches.
The eight overseas players added a lot to entertainment and popularity of the tournament. Chris Gayle, Shahid Afridi and Kieron Pollard were closely followed by the fans.
Pollard provided fireworks and has scored 146 runs, highest amongst the visitors.
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