The Sydney Sixers defeated David Warner’s Sydney Thunder in a thrilling Twenty20 match as Steve Smith hammered 32 off one over on his way to a 41-ball century, setting a Big Bash League record.
In the record-breaking single-over blitz on Friday night, the veteran great, who had just led Australia to an Ashes series win over England, hit four consecutive sixes off an astonished Ryan Hadley.
It stole the limelight from longtime Australia teammate Warner, who hit an undefeated 110 off 65 balls to set Smith’s team 190 to win, and helped the Sixers win by five wickets at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Talking to broadcaster Kayo Sports, Smith said, “We knew we had to go hard from the outset because Davey played a beautiful knock.”
Smith and Pakistan’s Babar Azam (47 off 39) put together a 141-run opening partnership, as Smith momentarily threatened to equal or surpass the fastest BBL century (39 balls).
He hit five fours and nine sixes before being stumped for 100 by Sam Billings as he came down the wicket to Tanveer Sangha.
The Thunder were stuck at the bottom of the BBL standings, while the Sixers moved up to fourth.
