Pitch Social Launches BatFast Cricket Simulator At The South Africa v Australia Test In Durban

Pitch Social is delighted to announce the launch of the BatFast cricket simulator at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead in Durban, giving ticket holders the chance to go beyond watching the game and step up to face the ball themselves as South Africa and Australia open the first Test of the Dafabet Test Series.

The activation will launch on Friday 9 October, the first day of the Test, and will run through the match weekend until Sunday 11 October. PitchTech is the company bringing BatFast to South Africa, and Pitch Social is the consumer brand that will house the technology and the sports that come with it. Golf has already launched. Cricket follows now.

The BatFast cricket simulator will be open to ticket holders at the main entrance in front of the Sports Shop from 09:30 to 16:30, and it is free to play. The challenge is simple: who can face the fastest six balls and score the most runs? A leaderboard on site will show who is on top.

BatFast is the leading technology platform for batting sports. Its proprietary hardware, computer vision, ball tracking, and immersive simulation turn every delivery into data. After you have played, your score record will be emailed to you, showing how you scored over the over. The same technology has powered fan activations at The Hundred, the Vitality Blast, the Caribbean Premier League and the IPL.

The first Test starts at 09:30 on Friday 9 October at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead, 2 Kingsmead Way, Stamford Hill, Durban, and runs to 13 October. Tickets start at R50 through Cricket South Africa.

Guy Bower, Co-founder, Pitch Social

“Everyone has a view on how good they are at facing that ‘fast ball’. Now they can find out. Step up, take on the fastest setting and see where you land on the board.”

Guy has more than 15 years in event infrastructure, logistics, activations, and experiential entertainment.

Durran Els, Co-founder, Pitch Social

The idea began as a casual conversation between Guy and Durran about adding a climbing wall to an entertainment space. It grew into a bigger question. People use data to guide almost every part of their lives, yet recreational sport rarely gives them the same feedback.

“BatFast is built for elite players, but it is inclusive for any first-timer. The same data that helps a pro improve their game gives everyone else a reason to go again.”

Durran has a background in global corporate IT management and enterprise strategy.

Jack Roddick, Senior Commercial Manager, BatFast

“Bringing BatFast to South Africa’s cricket stadiums is an important step in our mission to grow sports participation worldwide through technology. It’s a chance to turn a love of watching cricket into the joy of playing it, and Pitch Social shares our ambition to bring that opportunity to more people across the country.”

The launch reflects Pitch Social’s wider mission to put data and participation in the hands of everyday sports fans, using augmented reality, real-time analytics and connected technology to make sport accessible and engaging for casual players, dedicated athletes and businesses alike.