spot_img

WBBL sees viewership spike during semi-final game

Cricket Australia has confirmed that the first semifinal of the Rebel Women’s Big Bash League saw a 30 percent spike in the viewership in comparison to last year’s average viewership during the semifinals. On November 25, Meg Lanning led Melbourne Stars were up against the Perth Scorchers at SCG. Lanning won the toss and invited Scorchers to bat first in the knockout game.

The Stars kept the Scorchers quite in the first innings as the leg spinner, Alana King took three vital wickets in the crucial encounter to keep Perth’s total down to 125. The total was low and the 67 run-stand between Natalie Sciver and Annabel Sutherland chased down the total in the seventh over itself.

Cricket Australia said in a tweet that total number of 303,649 viewers tuned to watch the first semifinal. The pronounced reason for the spike in the viewership is due to the rise of competitiveness in women’s cricket and WBBL is one of the most competitive leagues in the world. Another reason for the viewership increment is the coronavirus pandemic. The tournament is played behind closed doors, so match going fans are also watching it from home.

The Indians Women’s cricketers did not take part in the Women’s Big Bash as the Indian Board also hosted its own Women’s T20 Challenge in Sharjah where Smriti Mandhana’s Trailblazers clinched their maiden title against Harmanpreet Kaur’s Supernovas.

After the second semifinal where Racheal Haynes’ Sydney Thunder have beaten Brisbane Heats, the final of the Women’s Big Bash will be contested between Stars and Thunder on November 28. 

Related Articles

Latest Articles