A young boy has been taken to hospital after being caught flush in the face by a cricket ball smashed for six by Ellyse Perry during Saturday’s Women’s Big Bash League action.

According to witnesses, Perry’s shot deflected off a chair before hitting the boy in the crowd. He was tended to by medical staff with ice packs before paramedics arrived.

The boy was able to walk to the ambulance before being taken to hospital for further observation.

The incident prompted a break in play as Sydney Sixers star all-rounder Perry, who finished the night on 91 not out, hurried to the boundary to check on the boy’s wellbeing.

“It’s never nice to see someone get hit in the head, particularly with a cricket ball,” Perry said. “I was really concerned because it hit him pretty hard.”

“I hope he’s OK, he seems like a tough cookie and his parents and medical staff were around him looking after him but it’s not nice to see.

“I just caught sight of it when it landed, hit the concrete and kick up and hit him in the face. It’s coming pretty hard and it’s a hard ball, so I think your immediate reaction is to see if he’s OK.”

Anxious spectators attend to the boy left dazed by Ellyse Perry’s six.

The incident came as the Sixers dispatched the Melbourne Stars to all parts of the ground in their WBBL opener, registering a mammoth 4-242 in their 20 overs — a domestic Twenty20 record.

Perry’s unbeaten 91 kept the momentum going for the Sixers, but the bulk of the runs were scored by Ashleigh Gardner, who thumped an incredible 47-ball century in an innings totalling 114 runs and featuring 10 sixes.

The Sixers’ big hitting came as no surprise to Perry, who credited the growing professionalism and development of women’s cricket in Australia.

“You can probably put it down to a few things, we’re another year into the development of women’s cricket,’ Perry said.

“Most of the players have been full-time elite cricketers for the last 12 months, so that’s always going to lead to development.

“The girls are fitter, they are stronger, they’ve had more time to work on their technique and get to know their games, so it’s probably not surprising in a lot of ways.”

-ABC