Steve Smith is not a T20 batter. He has been discarded from the IPL and wasn’t in contention in the Australia T20 side before he called it a time on his T20I career. The Australian great must have heard that a hundred times. But even at 36 years of age, he is forcing his doubters to rethink the notion that he is not a T20 batter. On Friday, he sent another reminder, smashing a 41-ball century for Sydney Sixers against Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League.
Smith’s knock had 9 sixes and five boundaries as he opened the batting alongside Pakistan’s Babar Azam in a 141-run opening stand in the chase of 190 runs. It was the joint second fastest century of the Big Bash League history, equalling Glenn Maxwell’s record, which came in BBL 2022. In the first innings, Smith’s former teammate David Warner hit a 65-ball 110 but it never looked as dominant.
That thunderous knock helped Sydney Sixers stay in the hunt for the BBL 2025-26 playoffs race with Brisbane Heat as Smith’s side beat Sydney Thunder by 5 wickets in the derby.
Fastest centuries of Big Bash League
| Player | Balls | Team | Opponent | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Craig Simmons | 39 | Perth Scorchers | Adelaide Strikers | 16 January 2014 |
| Mitchell Owen | 39 | Hobart Hurricanes | Sydney Thunder | 27 January 2025 |
| Glenn Maxwell | 41 | Melbourne Stars | Hobart Hurricanes | 19 January 2022 |
| Josh Brown | 41 | Brisbane Heat | Adelaide Strikers | 22 January 2024 |
| Steve Smith | 41 | Sydney Sixers | Sydney Thunder | 16 January 2026 |
| Luke Wright | 44 | Melbourne Stars | Hobart Hurricanes | 09 January 2012 |
| Jack Wildermuth | 46 | Brisbane Heat | Perth Scorchers | 19 December 2025 |
| Ben McDermott | 47 | Hobart Hurricanes | Melbourne Renegades | 12 January 2017 |
Sydney Sixers’ 5-wicket win help them inch closer to BBL 15 playoffs
For the unversed, Sydney Sixers won the toss and elected to bowl first. As a result, the David Warner-led side posted 189 in their stipulated 20 overs, courtesy an unbeaten 110 from their skipper. Sam Curran was the pick among the bowlers as he scalped three wickets in his four-over spell, whereas Mitchell Starc, Jack Edwards and Ben Manenti picked a wicket each.
In reply, the Sixers chased the total with ease in just 17.2 overs. Steven Smith played a match-winning knock of 42-ball 100, along with a crucial 47 from Babar Azam. Smith’s innings, which also saw him hit four consecutive sixes in the 12th over, was laced with five fours and nine sixes before he was sent back to the pavilion by Tanveer Sangha.
The Sydney Sixers, who are placed fourth in the BBL 15 standings, will next take on Brisbane Heat in the final league stage fixture of this year’s tournament on Sunday, January 18 at the Gabba in Brisbane.
