BBL 2024/25, SS vs PS thirtieth Match Match Report, January 11, 2025

Sydney Sixers 220 for 3 (Smith 121*) beat Perth Scorchers 206 for 7 (Turner 66*, Abbott 4-43) by 14 runs

Steven Smith despatched an emphatic reminder of his T20 price, smashing a masterful 121 not out to hit the Sydney Sixers to a 14-run win over Perth Scorchers.

In top-of-the-line BBL innings, Smith launched an astonishing seven sixes in entrance of 31,165 followers on the SCG on Saturday afternoon in a 64-ball innings for the ages because the Sixers cantered to 220 for 3 – their highest complete within the competitors.

Sean Abbott then celebrated his call-up to the Australian Check squad for Sri Lanka with 4 for 43, maintaining Sixers second on the ladder and with one foot within the finals.

And whereas Scorchers supplied some fireworks of their very own, this was a day for Smith.

The century marked his third within the BBL, drawing him stage with Ben McDermott for probably the most within the event’s historical past. Smith has performed 32 matches for his three tons, in contrast with McDermott’s 100 video games.

Globally, Smith has been one thing of a forgotten star in T20 cricket, in contrast together with his standing as Australia’s finest Check batter since Sir Donald Bradman with a return to runs this summer season.

The 35-year-old has not performed a T20I for Australia since final February, and was ignored for the World Cup squad final yr. He has additionally been brushed prior to now 4 IPL auctions, that includes solely within the Main League Cricket final yr of all abroad franchise leagues.

Sean Abbott performed a key position with the ball•Getty Photographs

However within the BBL Smith continues to show his price, with this his third century in his previous seven video games. And it could have been his finest but. Smith’s final 95 runs got here off 40 balls, after Sixers had been significantly affected person early and 24 for 1 after 5 overs.

Smith usually focused the brief boundary on the SCG, whereas additionally chopping behind level with glee when Scorchers went too extensive exterior off to attempt to counteract him.

Two of his sixes got here off switch-hits to the brief rope, and one other was a crisp flick off his pads from Jhye Richardson that sailed into the Invoice O’Reilly Stand.

Nonetheless, Smith’s shot of the day went to the lengthy boundary, choosing up a full and extensive ball from AJ Tye and hitting it inside out over backward level for six.

Tye copped the brunt of the harm for Scorchers, going for 0 for 62 from his 4 overs whereas additionally being taken to by Ben Dwarshuis.

Richardson additionally went for 0 for 51 from his 4 overs, as Smith and Moises Henriques took him for twenty-four from the primary over of the facility surge throughout a 113-run partnership.

This was a day when every part Smith contact turned to gold, together with being caught within the deep within the final over earlier than replays fielder Nick Hobson had put a foot on the rope.

In reply, Scorchers confronted an uphill battle from the second Abbott took back-to-back wickets within the fourth over. Ashton Turner hit 66 from 32 balls to provide the Scorchers a late hope, however 23 from the ultimate over proved an excessive amount of as they stayed fifth on the ladder.

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