Yuvraj tops big hit parade at ICC World Twenty20

Cape Town, Sep 23 (UNI) Swashbuckling batsman Yuvraj Singh has done more than just break bowlers' hearts during the ongoing ICC Twenty20 World Cup 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 his 30-ball innings of 70 against Australia in yesterday's semi-final match at Durban, has seen him claim the top spot in the list of the biggest sixes in the 27-match event.

Yuvraj, who 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 of hapless englishman 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.

Yuvraj is one of two India batsmen in the list of the 14 biggest hits of the tournament so far, with Robin Uthappa joining him, courtesy of his 102-metre six, also in the semi-final against Australia.

Three Pakistani batsmen-- Misbah-ul-Haq, Younus Khan and captain Shoaib Malik-- will be hoping to overtake Yuvraj at the top of the list when India and Pakistan go head-to-head in tommrow'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 would mean the ball will fly further.

Despite that theory, only four of the 14 biggest hits in the tournament have come at the Wanderers with eight in Durban and two in Cape Town.

Both the Cape Town blows, together with one in Durban, have come from the bat of South Africa all-rounder Albie Morkel.

Yuvraj's prolific hitting has also given him the mark for the highest batting strike-rate in the tournament so far (235.08). He goes into tommorow's final with 134 runs, including his half-centuries against England and Australia, from just 57 deliveries.

Biggest sixes of the ICC Twenty20 World Cup: 1. 119m Yuvraj Singh (Ind) 2. 111m Misbah-ul-Haq (Pak) 3. 110m Matthew Hayden (Aus) 4. 107m Justin Kemp (SA) 5. 106m Albie Morkel (SA) 6. 105m Yuvraj Singh (Ind) 6. 105m Albie Morkel (SA) 8. 104m Darren Maddy (Eng) 9. 103m Younus Khan (Pak) 10. 102m Albie Morkel (SA) 10. 102m Robin Uthappa (Ind) 12. 101m Chris Gayle (WI) 12. 101m Craig McMillan (NZ) 12. 101m Shoaib Malik (Pak) Most sixes: 13 Craig McMillan (NZ) 12 Yuvraj Singh (Ind) 10 Chris Gayle (WI) 10 Matthew Hayden (Aus) 10 Justin Kemp (SA) UNI XC TB AM VC1855