Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Steve Smith has blasted a record-equalling third Big Bash century, with his masterful 121 not out leading the Sydney Sixers to 3-220 against Perth.
In one of the best innings in BBL history, Smith launched an astonishing seven sixes in a 64-ball innings that left the crowd at the SCG on its feet.
The 35-year-old’s unbeaten knock came just days after his return to the Test captaincy was confirmed, filling in for Pat Cummins for Australia’s looming tour of Sri Lanka.
Smith has long been considered Australia’s best Test batsman since Sir Donald Bradman, while he is a master of the 50-over format where he controls the tempo.
But his record in domestic Twenty20 cricket is now as good as anyone’s.
Smith’s century at the SCG marked his third in the BBL in 32 games, equalling Ben McDermott’s three from 100 games for the most in the tournament’s history.
Smith scored two centuries for the Sixers two seasons ago, before playing just two games last summer.
Without doubt, this was the pick of his knocks.
The right-hander’s last 95 runs came off 40 balls, after the Sixers were particularly patient early and 1-24 after five overs.
He regularly targeted the short boundary at the SCG, while also cutting behind point with glee when the Scorchers went too wide outside off to try counteract him.
Two of his sixes came off switch hits to the short rope, while another was a crisp flick off his pads from Jhye Richardson that sailed into the Bill O’Reilly Stand.
But Smith’s shot of the day went to the long boundary, picking up a full and wide ball from AJ Tye and hitting it inside out over backward point for six.
Tye copped the brunt of the damage for the Scorchers, going for 0-62 from his four overs while also being taken to by Ben Dwarshuis (23no off 7).
Richardson also went for 0-51 from his four overs, with 24 coming off one during the power surge as Smith and Moises Henriques (46 from 28) completely changed the complexion of the game.
Making the situation even worse for the Scorchers was that Cooper Connolly put down a caught-and-bowled chance on 31, just as Smith started to get going.
But this was a day where everything Smith touched turned to gold, including being caught in the deep by Nick Hobson in the last over before replays showed the Scorcher had put a foot on the rope.
