Steve Smith shattered records with a stunning century to answer David Warner’s epic ton as the Sixers won the Sydney Smash despite an awkward Babar Azam moment at SCG.
The Sixers made 5-191 from 17.2 overs in reply to the Thunder’s 6-189 in their Sydney Smash clash at The Sydney Cricket Ground, with Steve Smith belting a 41 ball ton including five fours and nine sixes.
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MATCH CENTRE: Sixers vs Thunder teams, scorecard, stats, videos
Smith belted four straight sixes in the 12th over to break the record for most runs in an over (32) in BBL history off Ryan Hadley.
Steve Smith got the Sixers off to a flyer in their chase with one of his towering sixes hitting the roof of the Brewongle stand.
Smith belted two fours and four huge sixes in his 50 off just 23 balls.
Babar Azam hit seven fours in his 47 off 39, but was fuming after being bowled by Nathan McAndrew.
Azam was dirty at Steve Smith for passing up a single on route to his record 32 run over and showed his disgust as he walked off the field.
Smith breaks BBL record | 00:34
Isa Guha said Azam was “not happy” with the decision, although Brad Haddin said it was a “smart tactical move” from the Sixers superstar, who left no doubt he had made the right call.
“He needs to be happy,” Haddin said of Smith.
“That was a smart, tactical move by Steve Smith. Babar shouldn’t be upset. Steve Smith wants the opportunity to go at the small boundary. Smart tactic from Steve Smith.”
Absurd 107m shot from Smith | 00:50
Smith was stumped next ball after bringing up his ton by Sam Billings off Tanveer Sangha for 100 even off 42 balls.
The Thunder made 6-189 from their overs after being sent in by the Sixers as David Warner smashed his second century of BBL15.
Warner belted 11 fours and three towering sixes to bring up his second century of the season off just 61 balls and finished unbeaten on 110 from just 65 balls.
Warner turns back the clock with ton | 03:41
“That was an absolute masterclass,” Brad Haddin said on Fox Cricket.
Mitchell Starc fired in bowling to old teammate Warner in his first BBL game in 11 years, but the batters had the advantage early.
Matthew Gilkes hit two fours in his run a ball 12 before he was caught by a brilliant diving catch from Moises Henriques to give Mitchell Starc his first BBL wicket in 11 years.
Warner gets 2nd BBL Ton of the Summer | 00:47
Warner, meanwhile, smashed eight fours and a six to bring up his 50 off just 25 balls but teammate Sam Konstas capped a miserable BBL campaign with just six off 11 balls before skying one to Josh Philippe off Jack Edwards.
Sam Billings, meanwhile, hit one four in his 14 off 13 balls before he was out to a diving catch from Steve Smith in the deep to give Ben Manenti his first scalp.
Smith with all time diving catch | 00:40
Warner, however, refused to go down and became just the fourth player to score 14,000 T20 runs after he passed 82 off just 49 balls before bringing up the century.
One moment in the Thunder’s innings summed up the Sixers’ night as Nic Maddinson hit a ball towards the boundary with Smith and Babar Azam both in position to stop it, only to watch as it went for four.
“Oh my word. Whose call was that?” Isa Guha said in commentary, while Mark Waugh said “Babar could have done a little bit better than that”, adding the ball was “not hard hit”.
Speaking of Maddinson, he also made his mark as he smashed two fours and two sixes in a cameo of 26 from 16 balls, before he was caught by Smith off Sam Curran.
Starc gets first BBL Wicket in 11 years | 00:42
Chris Green came and went for a golden duck caught and bowled by Curran after skying one before Sams was caught on the final ball of the innings as the Brit finished 3-28.
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