Australian star Steve Smith has put on an “absolute clinic” in the Sydney Smash as he blasted the highest score of this BBL campaign in devastating fashion.
Fresh off a brilliant 101 off just 56 balls, Smith went even better against rivals the Sydney Thunder on Saturday night as he smashed an incredible 125* off 66 balls.
The innings, which is now the fifth highest score in Big Bash history, included a whopping nine sixes – the equal second most in a single BBL innings.
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“He’s just put an absolute clinic here tonight … some sort of display,” Fox Cricket’s Mark Waugh praised.
“He’s turned into the Hulk tonight.
“It’s as good a T20 innings as you’ll ever see.”
Smith becomes just the second BBL player to score back-to-back centuries behind Ben McDermott in 2021.
Only three centuries have been scored this BBL series – and Smith has two of them.
Together with teammate Moises Henriques, the Sixers duo put on the 10th highest partnership (155 off 90 balls) in BBL records.
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Henriques was full of praise for the Aussie star who turned it on for the fans at the SCG.
“That’s a 155-160 par wicket and Steve is just doing Steve Smith things out there,” he told Fox Cricket.
“That was incredible. Some of those shots, I was standing up the other end just gobsmacked.
“I’ve been playing cricket with him for 15 years, 20 years but that’s probably one of the best T20 knocks I’ve ever seen.
“This is a much worse wicket than the one we saw at Coffs and this wicket actually blows that last innings out of the park.
“That’s not an easy wicket to bat on. That was incredible to watch.
“I’m speechless, to be honest.
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“To think we wouldn’t let him play last year.
“Look at the people he’s pleased tonight, that was special to watch and I had the best seats in the house.”
Henriques was referring to Cricket Australia’s shock decision last January to deny Smith the ability to play in the Sixers’ finals for BBL11.
Smith had applied to play in a qualifier final against the Perth Scorchers – despite not having played in any of the regular fixtures and not being on the Sixers’ franchise playing list – but that application was rejected by the other states and the decision sealed by Cricket Australia.
But back with a vengeance in BBL12, commentator Brett Lee said what surprised him most about Smith’s special knock was the power displayed in the big sixes.
“It was incredible,” he said.
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“Just the intent – he’s gone out there and played proper cricket shots.
“What we’ve noticed the last two games from Steven Smith is just the extra bit of power. We haven’t seen that in this form of the game.
“This isn’t a small ground. A lot of those sixes were over 90 metres so well done to him.”
Smith explained it took a small technical shift with his hands to get that new-found power that’s led him to back-to-back centuries.
“The middle of the bat makes a big difference,” he laughed.
“I brought my hand around a little bit, so I’m a bit more open and a bit more side-on so means I’m a bit more powerful.
“The bat I’m using at the moment is an absolute weapon.
“I feel like I’m just watching the ball and hitting where its supposed to go.”
