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The 50th match of the Big Bash League took place at the Sydney Cricket Ground between the Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder. The Sixers won the toss and opted to bat first. It was reduced to a 19 overs game due to rain. Opening batter Josh Philippe fell after scoring just 10 off 8 balls with one four.
Kuris Patterson soon followed as he fell for a score of 2 off 4 balls. That was the last moment of happiness for the Thunder as it was a Sixers show from then on. Their star batter Steve Smith bossed over the Thunder bowling lineup and took them to the cleaners. He scored 125 off 66 balls with five fours and nine sixes in his innings.
Like he had done a few days earlier against the Adelaide Strikers, he brought up his second hundred at the BBL with a six. And it was Pakistan leg-spinner Usman Qadir, who was at the receiving this time when Smith was batting on 94. He bowled a flighted delivery that was in the slot, and Smith went for a big slog, hammering the ball over long-on for a gigantic six. This brought up two hundreds in two games for the right-handed batter.
And like the last game, he hit the six and then took off the helmet to soak in the applause from the crowd. The crowd were thoroughly entertained by a masterful T20 innings from a man who is more known for his exploits in Test cricket. Smith has hit a purple patch and will look to keep on piling the runs with the form he is in.
The Sydney Sixers got to a mammoth total of 187-2 in 19 overs. The Sixers skipper Moises Henriques played a support role to Smith and made a handy 45 off 36 balls with one four and two sixes. In the second innings, the Thunder faced scoreboard pressure as The Sixers bowlers took wickets. They were led by Steve OKeefe who picked up 4-10 in his three overs. The Thunder were bundled out for 62 runs.
Ben Dwarshuis picked up 2-14 in his three overs. Sean Abbott picked up 3-11 in his 2.4 overs overs. The Thunder were 60-8 in 13.5 overs. The Thunder batting lineup capitulated under pressure.
Let us take a look at the reactions on Twitter:
Steve Smith becomes the first player to score a century in consecutive BBL innings.
These are also the first 2 hundreds for Sydney Sixers men.#BBL12
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) January 21, 2023
Damn, Steve Smith finally transferred some of his recent ODI performances to t20’s
Irrespective of the quality, b2b t20 hundreds is an impressive feat
— HL (@Haarrre) January 21, 2023
Back to back T20 Centuries for Steve Smith. Bro desperately wants a IPL contract.pic.twitter.com/IFwMmJh2Np
— Pr𝕏tham (@Prxtham_18) January 21, 2023
💯🔥
Steve Smith pic.twitter.com/OVXdbPKRn8— 🌟 (@Preetiii49) January 21, 2023
Steve Smith was simply unstoppable tonight batting the full nineteen overs for 125 not out. Thunder needs 188. #BBL12 #BBLS12E50 pic.twitter.com/q8t3oJLBkU
— Rick Eyre (@rickeyrecricket.com on Bluesky) (@rickeyrecricket) January 21, 2023
Rip ipl #stevesmith #BBL12 pic.twitter.com/NJVLl29uFN
— Samaira (@Samaira_9208) January 21, 2023
A league where Steve Smith comes and smacks 2 back to back hundreds for fun, deserve to die sooner rather than later!
There's a pile of trash, BBL lies even beneath it!— Gagan Chawla (@toecrushrzzz) January 21, 2023
Back to back 100s for Steve Smith! He’s in incredible touch right now! Brilliant to witness live. Sixers have gone from never having a player score 100 – to Smudge scoring two back to back 👀 #BBL12
— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) January 21, 2023
Back-to-back hundreds for Steve Smith in Big Bash.
101* from 56 balls including 3 fours and 8 sixes, What a knock. pic.twitter.com/1UG4gRNjs8
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 21, 2023
This guy has astonished everyone. He's already a test legend and now taking over a T20 league with back to back hundreds.#SteveSmith #BBL12
— Arjun (@iam_arjunk) January 21, 2023
