BBL opener tops TV ratings

The KFC T20 Big Bash League got off to a flying start last night - both on and off the field.

As the Stars piled on more than 200 runs to prove far too strong for the Renegades in the Big Melbourne Derby, Channel 10 enjoyed a superb response from its audience, with the match topping television ratings for the evening in Melbourne and around the nation as over one million viewers tuned in.

The first innings of the match, in which the Stars made 7-208 from their 20 overs, was watched by 1.16 million metro and regional viewers, while 1.1 million of those continued watching for the Renegades' innings, in which they were dismissed for 132 in 17.3 overs. 

The figures will make pleasant reading for Channel 10, who earlier this year secured the broadcasting rights to the tournament for the first time. In the 2012-13 BBL tournament, broadcast on Fox Sports, the average audience for each BBL match was 230,000.  

On the field, Englishman Luke Wright (70 from 32 balls) top-scored for the Stars with the bat, while returning paceman Jackson Bird claimed 4-31 from four overs to put himself back into calculations for Test selection.

Watch full match highlights here.