Sydney Sixers’ Steve Smith delivered an outstanding performance in the Big Bash League (BBL) match against Adelaide Strikers, scoring his first century in the league. Smith, who was sent in to bat at the top of the order, relished the short boundaries and dominated the match with a knock of 101 off 56 balls.
He and Kurtis Patterson formed a 149-run second-wicket partnership, the highest stand of the BBL season so far, as the Sixers finished with a huge total that proved too much for the Strikers to handle.
The Sixers won their fourth straight match, remaining locked in a battle with arch-rival Perth Scorchers for the top position in the BBL, while the Strikers are mired in mid-table. Smith had a bit of luck on his side in the beginning of the match, as he was almost run out early on in his innings. However, he made the most of this chance and unleashed furious big-hitting and reverse sweeps, showcasing a greater freedom following his technical refinement.
Smith’s century was a statement to national selectors, as he had been on the outer during the recent T20 World Cup. It was also the first century for the Sixers in BBL, ending a long-time jinx for the three-time champions. Smith’s only previous T20 century was in the Indian Premier League in 2016.
