More than 4,000 spectators watched the inaugural round of Kia Women’s Super League cricket matches over the weekend – surpassing the expectations of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

The first three fixtures of the elite twenty over competition saw a total attendance of 4,376 – or an average attendance of 1,558 – a figure which the governing body is expected to take encouragement from.

In February, ECB director of women’s cricket Clare Connor told Sports Management “it would be fantastic to reach an average attendance of 1,000 for the first round of games”.

“That would make me very happy,” she added. “For finals day we hope to get nearer 4-5,000.”

The biggest crowd of the round came at Hampshire’s Ageas Bowl, where 2,250 watched the Southern Vipers beat the Surrey Stars by six wickets, while 1,180 who visited Taunton saw Western Storm get off to a winning start against Lancashire Thunder.

Yorkshire Diamond’s defeat at Headingley to Loughborough Lightning generated the smallest crowd, with 946 in attendance.