Power plays set the tone in T20 cricket. For a bowling side, there's a lot to gain, with early wickets always critical. Win the power play comprehensively and you tend to win the game. 

BBL's modified version (down on the normal six-over power play to four overs) of the power play still has plenty of significance when it comes to the contest.

Stats Insider has crunched the numbers illustrating the discernible trend in power plays that’s setting the top three apart from the rest.

In addition, we've also analysed the power surge (the two-over period determined by the batting side after the 10^th over where there can only be two fielders outside the inner circle) and who is best exploiting that from a batting point of view. And there's one clear winner who've found a big competitive advantage.

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Power Plays

If you were questioning how important the power play is to T20 success, then it's worth considering the top five in the above table and how it replicates the current BBL standings.

The above table is ordered by opposition scoring rates, so the lower the better. If a bowling can keep things tight in the first four overs, it makes a big difference.

Indeed, there's the top three well clear of the rest in the Sixers, Thunder and Scorchers, before the Hurricanes whom are a notch below. Down the bottom there's three strugglers in the Strikers, Stars and Renegades.

The Sixers, Thunder and Scorchers on average allow fewer than 28 runs during the 24-ball power play which is exceptional. All three sides typically get a wicket or more too.

Remarkably, the Sixers have had the worst bowling power play performance all season, conceding 0-54 against the Hurricanes early in the season in Launceston. With that said, the reigning champions also have the two tightest power play performances so far, producing a 2-12 against the Stars and 3-13 against the Heat.

The Thunder are the masters of consistency, never allowing more than 31 runs all season, while they have taken the most wickets of any side in the power play. They have noticeable success bowling second when it comes to early dismissals, claiming a season-best 5-28 against the Heat. On three occasions, the Thunder have taken three wickets inside the power play too, which goes a long way to slowing the scoring.

The Scorchers have kept sides below 22 runs five times, but have suffered a few blowouts, notably including 1-47 against the Renegades at Marvel Stadium.

On the flipside, taking wickets has been an obvious issue for the Strikers (six wickets in 10 power plays) and the Renegades (seven wickets in nine power plays) which it's reasonable to assume leads to more runs being scored by the opposition. 

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Power Surges

The advent of the power surge has arguably been the best rule introduced to the BBL and something which international T20 needs to consider for the added layer of strategy and intrigue that it brings.

The order of the above table is purely on wickets taken during the surge with the ladder-leading Scorchers claiming a significant advantage of their opposition which cannot be ignored.

Perth and the Thunder are clearly the best two sides at taking wickets during the surge and keeping scoring down. Curiously, Hobart have had success with the latter, but not the former.

The Scorchers have taken 21 wickets in 11-and-a-half power surges (one was only one-over due to rain against the Thunder) which is 12 dismissals clear of the next best. It's almost two wickets per surge which makes for a complete momentum changer.

On eight occasions in Perth's 12 games, they have taken two or more wickets during the surge. The Scorchers boast three of the best four bowling surges too (4-18 against the Strikers, 3-8 against the Renegades and 3-34 against the Thunder).

The concept of the surge, taken by the batting team, is to give them an opportunity to escalate the scoring, yet Perth have found a way to counter that successfully. 

Perth have also made a concerted habit of batting first in BBL|11 (nine out of 12 games they've batted first), which coincided with the trend that more wickets tend to fall during the surge of a side batting second.

Indeed, there’s a significant trend when it comes to wickets falling during the power play, with 60 wickets occurring during the second innings compared to 44 in the first.

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Conclusion

In this BBL, more than ever, it does feel like there's a discernible gap between the top clubs and the rest. Right now, it feels as though only the Scorchers, Thunder and Sixers can lift the title.

And the aforementioned numbers around bowling in the power play and power surge indicate some significant gains that are leaving the rest in their wake.

Perth's ability to take wickets during the power surge is a game-changer too. Whether the contenders can quell that and the stragglers can find a way to catch up to the leaders remains to be seen. 

But the evidence is clear and it's helping divide the good and the bad in BBL|11.

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