Hodge becomes the first to 5000 in T20s

Brad Hodge became the first batsman in Twenty20 cricket to reach 5,000 runs when on 25 during Barisal Burners' BPL match against Chittagong Kings in Khulna. Though he reached the milestone on a day when his side lost by 21 runs, it pleased Hodge as it was a testament of his class in this format.

"I am just very happy," Hodge told ESPNcricinfo. "I have made 10,000 plus runs in Sheffield Shield and 5,000 in T20s, means that I have performed well over the course of my lifetime."

Hodge achieved the milestone with a cover drive off West Indies allrounder Kevon Cooper, but stayed away from a celebration even though he was made aware of the impending record by one of the commentators.

"I got told by Russell Arnold that I needed 25, but I didn't think about it at the time," he said.

Hodge has played 171 T20 games (including eight internationals) over the past decade after making his debut on June 16, 2003, playing for Leicestershire against Yorkshire in the first-ever tournament of this format. He made 97 in that game.

Overall, he averages 36.29 with an impressive strike-rate of 129.13, and has scored 34 fifties and two centuries. The Barisal Burners is Hodge's 14th Twenty20 team in all levels including Australia and Australia A. He has played for three IPL teams while he has also turned up for Auckland, Basnahira Cricket Dundee, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Melbourne Renegades, Melbourne Stars, Northern Districts, and his home side Victoria.

His first century came against New South Wales in the 2005-06 final when he hit 106 off just 54 balls and his second century came against Nottinghamshire three years ago.

David Hussey is a close second behind Hodge with 4,821 runs while there are three others - Chris Gayle, Brendan McCullum and Owais Shah - who have scored more than 4,000 runs in T20s.