BBL 2025-26: Smith's stunning 41-ball ton steals Warner's thunder as Sixers keep top-two finish hopes alive

Match 37 of the Big Bash League 2025-26 witnessed the second Sydney derby of the season at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday, January 16. Sydney Sixers won the toss and put Sydney Thunder in to bat.

Sean Abbott began the proceedings with a quiet over. But, the Thunder openers - captain David Warner and Matthew Gilkes - did not spare the Australian star left-armer Mitchell Starc who bowled the second over which went for 15 runs. The batting team continued with the momentum as the Thunder ended the four-over powerplay at 49/0.

Gilkes, who was not getting a move on, was dismissed by Starc in the sixth over for 12(12). Konstas, who moved down to number 3, joined Warner in the middle but failed to get going as well as the 20-year-old was scalped by Edwards for 6(11).

Meanwhile, the Thunder captain was going all guns blazing. The southpaw crossed the 50-run mark off 25 balls and was holding the innings together almost single-handedly. Wicketkeeper-batter Sam Billings provided some breathing space to Warner as the Englishman took the initiative during their partnership. The right-hander, however, could not last long as an excellent diving catch from Steve Smith ended his stay for 14(13).

Nic Maddinson walked to the middle and the left-handers stabilised the innings. Warner continued to lead by example, keeping the boundaries coming. The 39-year-old reached his fourth BBL century in 61 balls in the 19th over. Notably, it was the southpaw's second century of the season after scoring his BBL career best of 130* against the Hurricanes three games ago.

Maddinson, who played the supporting role to Warner, was dismissed in the final over for 26(16). The Thunder finished at 189/6 and Warner remained unbeaten on 110 off 65 balls, an innings that comprised 11 fours and four sixes. For the Sixers, Sam Curran was the best bowler with figures of 3/28.

The Sixers openers - Babar Azam and Steve Smith - began their response with authority. Babar smacked the first ball past the point region for four and the duo looked intent to take the attack to the opposition. Smith found his mojo with a six off Wes Agar in the third over and there was no looking back now for him.

The duo smashed Nathan McAndrew for a 22-run fourth over of the innings which included a 107-metre six from Smith over square leg onto the roof. The Sixers ended the four-over powerplay with 50 runs on the board and continued to pile the misery on the Thunder bowlers.

Smith was on a different plane today while Babar too played with more freedom and intent. A notable moment in the innings came in the 12th over when Ryan Hadley came on to bowl to Smith. The Australian star batter took the right-armer apart, smashing him for four consecutive sixes, in all scoring 32 runs from the over. The Men in Pink were well and truly on course for a victory as they needed 49 runs from the last eight overs.

Babar, who was close to his half century, chopped on a McAndrew delivery for 47(39) though. The opening partnership amounted to 141 runs off 74 balls and was the highest first-wicket partnership for the Sixers ever. New man Josh Philippe failed to get going as the keeper-batter was out for a solitary run. Meanwhile, Smith looked set to score the fastest BBL century but failed to do so as the 36-year-old reached the landmark in 41 balls.

The quirky right-hander was out next ball while going for a big hit off leg spinner Tanveer Sangha. Smith scored 100 runs off 42 balls, hitting nine sixes and five fours on his way to his fourth BBL hundred. The Sixers, after a couple of hiccups, crossed the finishing line with five wickets and 16 balls remaining. For Thunder, Chris Green was the best bowler with figures of 1/18 off four overs. Smith, for his scintillating hundred, was adjudged as the Player of the Match.

The Sixers move to fourth on the points table and keep their hopes of finishing in the top-two alive.