A BIG thanks to Eva and family for this review of the Sydney Sixers vs Melbourne Stars at the KFC Big Bash. I’m currently waddling everywhere and now 39 weeks pregnant with baby number 3. We are very close now and the birth day might be any day now.

And now Eva’s review below.

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As readers of this blog are probably aware, Mummy to Twins founder Suzanne is really close to welcoming her new baby and as such has asked for a little help, and were were only too happy to step up.  The invitation came through to attend the Sydney Sixers vs Melbourne Stars BBL game at the Sydney Cricket Ground and we thought we’d give it a go. Not being a traditional cricketing family we weren’t really sure what to expect.

A little bit about us – we’re a family of 4, dad (reasonably interested in cricket but not fanatical), mum (I know what’s going on and can name a handful of players) and two boys Mr13 (TheGamer) and Mr10 (SoccerStar).

We’ve been to a few rugby league games but this would be our first family cricketing experience.

In preparation for our outing we started watching some of the BBL games on One so we could get a feel for what we’d be in for. Lots of colour, lots of commentary, and lots of movement. Looked like we were in for a fun evening.

I’d also prepared dinner to take with us as we have a few dietary issues to accommodate for and knowing that I could have this all sorted beforehand meant that it was one less stress for the evening. (KFC Big Bash allows visitors to take their own food to the games, this is great for families)

Gates of the SCG opened at 5:30pm and we arrived at 6:00pm ready for a 7:10pm start. So much action outside the gates and people everywhere. We had a quick look around at the stalls and activities but we were here for the cricket so we joined a queue. While in line we ran into another family we knew who came down from the Central Coast for the game and my husband spotted a mate buying more tickets. The game certainly attracted people from all over. We missed out on a clapper and KFC bucket but that meant we had less rubbish to throw away at the end.

We decided on seats a little higher up so we could see all the action just as the coin toss was going on. Pre-match was never dull as there were two commentators walking around the ground and talking to spectators, checking out the best dressed fans and all shown on the big screens so you never felt that you were missing anything. There was even a world record attempt by sunscreen company Solar D to have the most people applying sun screen at the same time (no word on if this record was achieved). So even though we had some time to wait before the game started, there was always something going on. Even watching the setting sun over the stands was an experience you don’t get to see every day.

And even if cricket is something that your partner of family enjoys more than you do there is a place for you. There was the super speedy crocheter, the ambivalent teen reading a novel and when you’re not quite sure which will take your fancy, you carry your Harry Potter book and mini bat in a KFC bucket.

Game time! Now we’re getting to see some runs on the board including a few fours and sixes. We even had one come right up into the stands near us.

Intermittently the crowd would be asked to JUMP to cheer on the Sixers – the first time Mr10 was unsure about what was going on, but once he saw that everyone else was getting into it, every other time he was the first to be up and jumping around madly.

Captain Moises Henriques was batting fantastically until he had to retire injured and I think this interrupted the Sixers momentum in reaching a big total. The crowd had high hopes for the bowlers especially when the first batsman for the Stars, Stonis, was out for a duck by O’Keefe. But the partnership between Maxwell and Handscomb was strong enough to see the Stars get their first win of the season.

Beyond the game we saw a pitch invasion (all family safe as he wasn’t nudey), the Sixers mascot meeting and greeting and the ever popular Mexican wave, but it didn’t come round until well into the second half of the evening. Once that wave gained momentum it had a couple of enthusiastic runs but it also required a quick explanation as to why people boo-ed each time it entered the Members Stands. The mid innings entertainment was fun with folks from the crowd selected to participate in a catching challenge.

Our verdict – a fun family night out. Mr 13 asked “when are we coming to see the next game?” and Mr 10 exclaimed that “it’s much more exciting at the game than watching it on TV”. Dad was enthusiastically clapping for all positive plays and I marvelled out how quickly the game progressed. So that’s four thumbs up from us and we’re all looking forward to coming along again to watch big Sydney hometown matchup between the Sixers and the Thunder on Saturday 16 Jan 2016.

If you wish to go to the KFC Big Bash and see some great games and entertainment, all you need to do is to go to the Big Bash Website and get tickets to the game of your choice. More info below:

• Affordable ticket pricing.
  Family tickets are from $42.50 and that is for 2 adults and 2 kids to attend the game.
  If you don’t wish to purchase a family ticket, adults are from $20 per adult and kids are from $5.00. So that is very affordable.
• Families can bring food to the game. This is great for kids who are fussy like mine or if you are like Eva’s family and have some dietary requirements that you would rather cater for.
• Non allocated seating
• Entertainment for the whole family