From a middle-order Test stodger to a prolific T20 opener, the emergence of Perth Scorcher Kurtis Patterson has been one of the more remarkable stories of the tournament.

A few eyebrows were raised when the Scorchers signed the left-hander from Sydney Thunder, known more for his red-ball exploits than power hitting in the shorter forms, on a three-year deal.

He didn’t set the world alight, or really get much of a chance to, in his first two seasons in orange, making 39 runs in four games with Josh Inglis and English imports Liam Livingstone and Jason Roy the mainstays at the top and the middle-order taken up by Colin Munro, Mitch Marsh, Ashton Turner, Ashton Agar, Aaron Hardie and co.

The odds of Patterson even playing 13 of a possible 15 games for Perth in BBL11, let alone leading the franchise’s run-scoring ahead of Friday’s decider, would have been atromonical pre-tournament.

But he’s been a pillar of consistency at the top of the order, hitting 390 runs at a strike rate of 143.91, including four half-centuries and a best score of 78 in the season-opening win over Brisbane Heat at Optus Stadium to announce himself.

Patterson, who didn’t even have a BBL 50 to his name in 30 previous appearances at the Thunder and Scorchers, raised the bat for the fourth time this tournament to help Perth go a step closer to a record fourth title.

“He’s the most improved player in the tournament for mine,” former Australian paceman Damien Fleming told Channel 7.

“Kurtis Patterson has to be one of the revelations and one of the finds of BBL11,” Ricky Ponting added.

The man himself puts his stunning white-ball improvement to a technical change and some self belief.

“I changed a few things in my setup, I feel like I’ve got a much better bat flow that what I’ve had in previous years and I think it’s probably that with a bit more self belief, it goes a long way,” Patterson said on Channel 7.

Patterson (64 off 41) set the platform for the Scorchers’ 48-run qualifier-final win over Sydney Sixers at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night with a 120-run opening stand with Josh Inglis (79 off 49) in 12.2 overs to help their side book a spot in final.

He flicked Ben Dwarshuis behind square for six then sent Steve O’Keefe 20 rows back over deep square-leg boundary the following over, but saved the biggest of the lot for Hayden Kerr who was dispatched into the second tier.

“He played a couple of Test matches for Australia and he was more seen as a longer-form player,” WA great Mike Hussey told Fox Cricket of Patterson, who scored a century in his second and most recent Test against Sri Lanka in 2018-19.

“He took his time in Sheffield Shield cricket and played the more classical game.

“He’s been on Big Bash lists before, he was with the Sydney Thunder for a few years then joined the Scorchers, but never got a consistent run at it.

“He’s got his opportunity at the top of the order and he’s been brutal, his strike rate has been outstanding this year and he’s got the Scorchers off to those flying starts that they’ve needed.”

Inglis was also full of praise for his opening partner on his breakout season.

“KP has been awesome all year,” Inglis said.

“He was really good tonight because he just took the pressure off me.

“We really put an emphasis on our partnership, we thought it would be quite tough to come in and start on that wicket.”

Kurtis Patterson by tournament

at Sydney Thunder

BBL02: One inning. Four runs at four. Strike rate: 200

BBL03: Six innings. 62 runs at 10.33. Strike rate: 100

BBL04: Did not play

BBL05: One inning. 18 runs at 18. Strike rate: 75

BBL06: Eight innings. 173 runs at 24.71. Strike rate: 121.83

BBL07: Eight innings. 185 runs at 23.12. Strike rate: 106.32

BBL08: Did not play

at Perth Scorchers

BBL09: Three innings. 39 runs at 19.5. Strike rate: 111.43

BBL10: Did not bat

BBL11: 12 innings. 390 runs at 32.5. Strike rate of 143.91