Strauss sets sixes pace

22 April 2008

Andrew Strauss goes aerial in his sensational innings of 163 against Surrey © Getty Images

Andrew Strauss is the early leader in the Sky Sports Sixes League.

The Middlesex opener hit four sixes in his magnificent 163 against Surrey in the Friends Provident Trophy on Sunday.

He tops the table ahead of Essex all-rounder Ravi Bopara, who struck three maximums in making 99 against Kent.

That game also saw Martin van Jaarsveld clear the rope three times, although he sits third in the sixes league on balls faced.

The league ranks the top 10 batsmen that have hit the most sixes in Friends Provident, Twenty20 Cup and NatWest Pro40 matches.

The winner will earn £2,000, while monthly awards are on offer for the country’s biggest hitters.

Last year Graeme Hick managed 28 sixes from 850 deliveries, finishing four maximums ahead of second-placed Luke Wright.

Past winners include Mark Ealham in 2004 with 20 sixes off 359 deliveries, Ian Blackwell, who smashed a record 45 sixes off 669 balls in 2005, and Somerset’s Cameron White. He hit 32 off 744 deliveries in 2004.

Sky Sports Sixes League

Andrew Strauss (Middlesex) 4 sixes, 130 balls
Ravi Bopara (Essex) 3, 87
Martin van Jaarsveld (Kent) 3, 93
Yasir Arafat (Kent) 2, 10
Nic Pothas (Hampshire) 2, 53
Craig Spearman (Gloucestershire) 2, 62
Kadeer Ali (Gloucestershire) 2, 69
Scott Newman (Surrey) 2, 69
Craig Kieswetter (Somerset) 2, 91
Neil McKenzie (Durham) 2, 123