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Yuvraj top of the big hits parade at ICC World Twenty20


DesiChap

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Yuvraj top of the big hits parade at ICC World Twenty20 Brian Murgatroyd September 23, 2007 India's Yuvraj Singh has done more than just break bowlers' hearts during the ongoing ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa; he has also taken the record for the longest hit of the tournament so far. The left-hander's blow of 119 metres, one of five sixes he clobbered during a 30-ball innings of 70 against Australia in Saturday evening's semi-final at Kingsmead, Durban has seen him claim top spot in the list of the biggest sixes in the 27-match event. Yuvraj, who has hit 12 sixes in four innings in South Africa, has two entries among the 14 biggest blows ahead of the final - the other, of 105 metres, coming during his feat of hitting six sixes in one over off England's Stuart Broad. However, he has not hit most sixes in the tournament as his achievement of clearing the ropes 12 times is one behind New Zealand's Craig McMillan, who has belted 13 maximums. The ability to determine how far each six has been hit during the ICC World Twenty20 is the result of technology employed by the ICC's new broadcast partner ESPN STAR Sports. Yuvraj is one of two India batsmen in the list of the 14 biggest hits of the tournament thus far, with Robin Uthappa joining him courtesy of his 102 metre-six, also in the semi-final against Australia. And also in that elite group are three Pakistan batsmen - Misbah-ul-Haq, Younus Khan and captain Shoaib Malik - and that trio will be among a host of batsmen capable of overtaking Yuvraj at the top of the list when India and Pakistan go head-to-head in Monday's final. That final will take place at The Wanderers in Johannesburg and as the venue is around 2000 metres above sea level there is every chance the current mark for the longest hit could be beaten as the theory is that the thinner air should mean the ball will fly further. Despite that theory, only four of the 14 biggest hits (listed below) have come at The Wanderers with eight in Durban and two in Cape Town. Both those Cape Town blows, together with one in Durban, have come from the bat of South Africa all-rounder Albie Morkel, who is the player that features most in the list with three appearances. England and Australia's bowlers are the ones to have suffered most at the hands of the very biggest hitters with players from the two line-ups hit for massive maximums four times each in that list of the 14 longest strikes. Yuvraj's prolific hitting has also given him the mark for the highest batting strike-rate in the tournament so far - 235.08 runs per hundred balls - for players with 75 runs or more. He goes into Monday's final with 134 runs, including his half-centuries against England and Australia, from just 57 deliveries received. Brian Murgatroyd is ICC Manager - Media and Communications

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