SYDNEY, Jan 11 South Australia have made the most prudent purchase of the Twenty20 Big Bash with power-hitting Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi the No 1 import as voted by cricket fans.

In a website poll to determine which of the ring-ins was doing the most damage, Afridi was a clear top choice from West Indians Dwayne Bravo and one-hit wonder Chris Gayle.

The Redbacks, who have Afridi and fellow foreigner Kieron Pollard in their XI, have been the bolter of the tournament to date.

Afridi polled 671 votes, almost 40 per cent of the responses, while Bravo netted 473 votes.

The pair have been busy with bat and ball for their respective sides.

Afridi, who has played 26 Tests for his country, has made 43 runs at an average of 14.33 in the middle order. His strike rate of 153.57 is a shade better than he came into the tournament with across 53 T20 matches.

But it has been with the ball that Afridi has done his best work. His quick leg-spin bowling has been hard for batsmen to get away as an economy rate of 6.25 runs per over signifies. Five wickets at an average of 15 is up with the best of the competition.

Bravo's bowling has been more expensive; he's going for 11.11 runs per over and has two fewer wickets than Afridi.

Pollard has been the quiet achiever of the off-shore buys. He is sharp in the field, bowls tidily (four wickets at 9.5) and has made 106 runs at 35.33. Pollard polled 196 votes.

Tasmania's cult hero Rana Naved-ul-Hasan of Pakistan was fifth in voting with 127 while Dwayne Smith came in sixth with 40 respondents liking what they see in him. —Agencies