BBL 2024-2025: Steve Smith oozes class in Sydney, slams epic century on league comeback

Representing Sydney Sixers, Steve Smith played one of his finest knocks in the shortest format on Saturday, January 11, as he slammed a 58-ball century against Perth Scorchers in his Big Bash League (BBL) comeback match. He enthralled the spectators at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground with his spectacular stroke play.

After Perth Scorchers won the toss and opted to bowl first, Sydney Sixers lost opener Josh Philippe early. His fellow opener, Smith, struggled in the initial phase of his innings but grinded it out in the middle, instead of throwing his wicket away. This move paid dividends for the former Australia captain as he started middling a lot of deliveries.

After Kurtis Patterson departed for 12, skipper Moises Henriques joined Smith in the middle in the eighth over. They forged a partnership of 113 off 57 balls, with Smith doing the bulk of the heavy-lifting. After Henriques departed for a 28-ball 46 in the 17th over, Sydney promoted Ben Dwarshuis up the order. The all-rounder slammed an unbeaten 23 off seven balls. However, it was the hometown hero who hogged the limelight.

Smith notched up his third BBL century off just 58 balls when he chopped a delivery bowled wide of off-stump from Jhye Richardson for a single in the 19th over.

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Jason Behrendorff was given the responsibility of bowling the last over for the Scorchers. However, Smith put him in all sorts of pressure by smacking the first two balls out of the park. The right-handed batter failed to make connection off the third ball but he dispatched the following one for a six. 22 runs came off the last over as Sydney finished on 220/3 in their 20 overs. Smith finished unbeaten on 121 off just 64 balls, belting 10 fours and seven sixes.

In reply, Ashton Turner scored 66 not out off 32 balls for Perth but they eventually fell short of Sydney's total by 14 runs. Sean Abbott was the pick of the bowlers as he finished with figures of 4/43 in four overs.