BBL 12: Steve Smith scores back-to-back T20 century before Sixers bundles Thunders at 62 at Sydney derby

BBL 12 SIX VS THU: A very emphatic victory for the Sixers. This game was billed as a clash between Smith and Warner but only one of them turned up today. While Smith was at his imperious best, smashing the ball to all parts, Warner looked scratchy and never got into his groove.

That metaphor extended to the rest of his side as well, with Sydney Thunder eventually folding up for 62 and handing the Sixers a 125-run victory. 125, incidentally, is also what Smith managed on his own in the first innings.

Steve Smith scores consecutive hundred in BBL 12

The veteran batter joined hands with captain Moises Henriques and batted through the innings to stitch together an unbroken 155-run stand. The former reached his fifty in the tenth over in 31 deliveries. In a rain-curtailed game, the Sydney Sixers won the toss and elected to bat with 19 overs per side.

Following his second consecutive three-figure score, Smith accelerated even faster as the Sixers collected 25 runs off the final two overs to set a 197-run target. The former Aussie captain finished unbeaten at 125 off 66 balls. However, the Sydney Thunders were bundled for 62 runs with Steve O’Keefe taking 4/10 and Sixers winning by 125 runs.

Sydney Sixers batter Steve Smith has been on absolute fire in the ongoing season of the Big Bash League (BBL), slamming back-to-back centuries. After a 56-ball hundred against the Adelaide Strikers on Thursday, the right-handed batter took the same number of balls against the Sydney Thunder on Saturday, January 21.

Cricket fraternity applauds Smith’s masterful knock

The 33-year-old reached his third T20 hundred, hitting a six over long on against leg-spinner Usman Qadir in the 17th over of the innings.

With the hundred, Smith has joined an elite list of back-to-back century in T20s. Smith joins the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Ishan Kishan, David Warner and Unmukt Chand.

Before facing the Sydney Thunder, Smith stated that he loves to open the innings in T20 cricket as there is complete freedom. He also commented on how he had some success in the role during the IPL:

“I like it up top, who wouldn’t want to open in T20 cricket? Two men out, it gives you a chance to just play the ball as you see it early on. And then once the fielders go out, you’ve got yourself in and have the chance to play your shots. It’s a place I enjoy batting.”

‘Simply unstoppable’, Social media goes crazy over Smith’s consecutive ton

Also read: Steve Smith brings up maiden BBL in style to break T20 shackles

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