Preview: Australia’s Twenty20 Big Bash League will increase the number of games next season, Cricket Australia said Friday, as it looks to capitalise on huge turnouts at matches. The Big Bash League – a quick-fire, high-octane format – has drawn huge crowds across Australia over the past few weeks, with the final to be held in Perth this Saturday. Eight matches are being added to the competition although the venues have yet to be announced, CA said. [caption id=“attachment_3224654” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Perth Scorchers battle with Sydney Sixers for the BBL 06 title. Twitter/ @CricketAus[/caption] One option was to hold the opening round in Hong Kong to capitalise on the league’s popularity, Cricket NSW chief Andrew Jones told the Sydney Morning Herald on Tuesday. “We’re always looking at opportunities to grow the game and expand our fan base beyond traditional markets and demographics,” Big Bash head Anthony Everard said in a statement. “We haven’t yet finalised the locations of these additional matches yet, but we are working closely with clubs to explore options.” He added that there were no plans at this stage to increase the number of teams in the league. More than one million spectators attended matches this season, while the league has attracted an average television viewership of more than a million each night, CA said. The final between the Perth Scorchers and the Sydney Sixers at the 24,500-capacity WACA Ground sold out in just over an hour, The West Australian reported Thursday. The enormous turnouts for the Big Bash place it narrowly ahead of the US Major League Baseball’s most recent season with an average attendance of just over 30,000, according to the Herald. With inputs from AFP
Highlights Big Bash League 2016/17 final, Perth Scorchers vs Sydney Sixers: Perth scorch Sydney to lift trophy
Catch all the Live scores and updates from the final of the 2016/17 Big Bash League final between Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers
 "Highlights Big Bash League 2016/17 final, Perth Scorchers vs Sydney Sixers: Perth scorch Sydney to lift trophy")
That’s it from us in our coverage of the BBL 06 final! Hope you enjoyed it, and feel free to leave your feedback in the comments section below. For tennis fans, you can follow live coverage of the Australian Open men's doubles final here .
With that, I, Amit, bid you guys goodbye!
Total attendance for #BBL06 1,053,997.
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) January 28, 2017
WE WIN... and it comes from a SIX!! How INSANE is that?! #MADETOUGH #BBL06Champions pic.twitter.com/aDtZwdG8oE
— Perth Scorchers (@ScorchersBBL) January 28, 2017
What a way to seal victory! #BBLFinal pic.twitter.com/NuVPj323Cq
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 28, 2017
Mitchell Johnson (4-0-13-1): It’s pretty awesome. Brings back memories, but this is pretty special. Top opposition, they’re always pretty confident. Im enjoying my cricket. It’s a big part of the season for me, and I don’t stress on anything, just go out and have fun.
(On possible international return) You always think about those things, but I don’t think I’ll play international cricket again, and that is done and dusted. I had fun while it (international cricket) lasted, and I’m having fun right now.
PS 144/1 after 15.5 overs (Michael Klinger 71, Ian Bell 31)
Botha into his second over, with victory just one hit away for the Scorchers now. Klinger attempts to finish things off after coming down the track, but miscues it towards the vacant gully region. SIX! What a way for Klinger to guide Perth Scorchers to their third BBL title! The Scorchers win by 9 wickets, and the WACA crowd go wild with celebrations after the winning shot!
A #BBLFinal half century for Klinger! All class on the big stage pic.twitter.com/zJbcN3aBOn
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 28, 2017
Sublime... #BBLFinal pic.twitter.com/Y7DzwXxLzK
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 28, 2017
Official crowd numbers are in and... we've got a healthy 21,832 attendees at the #BBLFinal tonight! INCREDIBLE!! #MADETOUGH pic.twitter.com/ql8fJq5KCx
— Perth Scorchers (@ScorchersBBL) January 28, 2017
PS 135/1 after 15 overs (Michael Klinger 63, Ian Bell 30)
Abbott into his third over. Bell cuts towards deep point to collect a double in the first delivery. SIX! Less than 10 needed for the Scorchers to win the title for the third time. Can they finish it off in this very over! Bell lofts that one over the long-off boundary with ease! Just a single at the end of the over, with nine coming off it.
PS 126/1 after 14 overs (Michael Klinger 63, Ian Bell 21)
Lyon into his final over. Can Gazza help get a breakthrough at this stage, even if they are virtually out of the game by now. FOUR! Clever late-cut by Klinger to allow the ball to run away towards fine third-man. Dot to end the over. Lyon finishes with figures of 1/28 at the end of his quota.
PS 119/1 after 13 overs (Michael Klinger 59, Ian Bell 18)
Dwarshuis into his final over. Bell collects a double off his first ball, followed by a single. SIX! Klinger smashes the ball over long-off to collect his fourth six! Looks like I was wrong about the Scorchers easing their way towards the target. Klinger advances and looks to steer it towards point, but ends up with two dots to end the over.
PS 110/1 after 12 overs (Michael Klinger 53, Ian Bell 15)
Sixers skipper Moises Henriques introduces himself into the attack, with his side fast losing their grip on the winner’s trophy. Turns out to be another slow over for the Scorchers, with singles being taken in all six deliveries (the second was a leg bye). Looks like Klinger and Bell want to take things easy from this point onwards, and get their team past the target with ease, rather than with a bang.
A #BBLFinal half century for Klinger! All class on the big stage pic.twitter.com/zJbcN3aBOn
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 28, 2017
PS 104/1 after 11 overs (Michael Klinger 50, Ian Bell 13)
Dwarshuis back into the attack for his third over. Two dots, followed by three singles, as Dwarshius keeps it tight for the most part in this over. FIFTY for Michael Klinger, his third in the sixth edition of the BBL, and he gets there with a quick single off the last ball!
HUGE! Some catching practice for the fans at #TheFurnace as Klinger brings up the 100 for the Scorchers! #BBLFinal pic.twitter.com/wIohr4ldJp
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 28, 2017
PS 100/1 after 10 overs (Michael Klinger 48, Ian Bell 11)
Botha introduced into the attack for the first time, and both Klinger and Bell decide to keep the ball rolling along the ground to collect singles and doubles. That is until the fifth delivery, when Klinger comes down the ground and smashes the ball towards the long-on boundary! Brings up the team 100, and moves to 48 with that shot!
C'mon the men in orange!! Bring it home again guys @ScorchersBBL . Will miss not playing at the waca, but glad I had the privilege 👊🏾
— Michael Carberry (@carbs646) January 28, 2017
PS 90/1 after 9 overs (Michael Klinger 39, Ian Bell 10)
Abbott into his second over. Single taken by Bell at the sart of the over. FOUR! Klinger keeps the scoreboard ticking at the other end, pulling towards backward square-leg to get his fourth boundary. Bell pulls towards backward square-leg in the penultimate delivery to get his first boundary, with Abbott grabbing his hair in despair. FOUR! Three boundaries scored in the over, with Bell cutting the last ball towards backward point to move to double-figures in no time!
WICKET! @NathLyon421 strikes as Whiteman is stumped on 41 runs.
— Sydney Sixers (@SixersBBL) January 28, 2017
Scorchers 1-75 in the 8th.#smashemsixers #BBLFinal pic.twitter.com/Fh26YiPRQT
PS 76/1 after 8 overs (Michael Klinger 34, Ian Bell 1)
Lyon into his third over. Has not been a very good outing for the experienced spinner so far. Single by Klinger at the start of the over, followed by a sweep by Whiteman for the keeper-batsman to get his fifth four. OUT! Lyon finally gets some success for the Sixers in this innings, after Whiteman comes down the track looking for a straight smash, and misses completely to get stumped for 41. And that brings Ian Bell to the crease. Take a bow Whiteman! What a bruta display of power-hitting that was to get the Scorchers off to a rollicking start!
Whiteman st Haddin b Lyon 41(21)
PS 70/0 after 7 overs (Michael Klinger 33, Sam Whiteman 37)
Bird into his second over. FOUR! Klinger comes down the track and smashes the ball between extra-cover and mid-off. Tries to cut the next delivery, and misses. Has been an easy ride for both openers so far, and will look to waltz all the way to the target. Couple of singles run in the next two deliveries. Decent over for the Scorchers with 9 coming off it.
We have a lost ball at The Furnace! If found, please return to Blocker Wilson #BBLFinal pic.twitter.com/zU8WWt3JtH
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 28, 2017
Klinger-cam #BBLFinal pic.twitter.com/xlGm6rH5Bd
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 28, 2017
PS 61/0 after 6 overs (Michael Klinger 25, Sam Whiteman 36)
Lyon into his second over, and he has been among the better bowlers in the innings so far. Klinger, who had earlier welcomed him into the attack with a glance down long-leg for a four, runs down the track and lofts over extra-cover for his second four. SIX! Klinger smashes the fifth delivery into the orbit straight over the bowler’s head, and it finally lands behind the sight-screen. The ball seems to have disappeared around that area, with the umpires fetching a different ball. Single off the last ball, with 11 coming off the over.
PS 50/0 after 5 overs (Michael Klinger 14, Sam Whiteman 36)
Sean Abbott introduced into the attack, with the Sixers desperately looking to stop the onslaught. FOUR! Pulled away by Klinger towards fine-leg and it is starting to become one-sided right now. Klinger is slowly joining the party at the moment. Couple of singles follow, before Klinger brings up the 50-opening stand with a quick single.
Sam Whiteman! 🔥🔥🔥 #BBLFinal pic.twitter.com/2kvpbIpgDe
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 28, 2017
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