Smith ton nullifies Warner's as Sixers do the double over Thunder

David Warner's unbeaten 110 off 65 balls, his second century of this Big Bash season, was overshadowed by a Steven Smith masterclass. Smith smashed 100 off just 42 deliveries to power the Sydney Sixers to a five-wicket victory over the Sydney Thunder with 16 balls to spare, successfully chasing 190 and completing a season double over their rivals.

Batting first at a packed SCG, Warner launched the Thunder's innings aggressively. He welcomed Mitchell Starc back to the BBL with a 15-run over and reached his half-century off 35 balls. While Warner anchored the innings, partners struggled at the other end, with Sam Konstas (6 off 11) and Sam Billings failing to accelerate. A productive Power Surge in the 14th and 15th overs yielded 38 runs, with Nic Maddinson contributing a quick 26. Warner brought up a deserved century off 61 balls, finishing unbeaten on 110 as the Thunder posted 189/6. Sam Curran was the pick of the Sixers' bowlers with 3-28.

In reply, Steven Smith signaled his intent early, pulling his fifth ball for six. He then demolished Nathan McAndrew's over, hitting 6, 4, 6—the second six a 107-metre shot that hit the SCG roof. Smith raced to a 23-ball fifty as the Sixers soared past 100 in the 10th over. He then unleashed carnage in the Power Surge, taking 32 runs off Ryan Hadley's over—the most expensive in BBL history—by hitting four consecutive sixes and a boundary. Smith reached his century with a single off Tanveer Sangha but was stumped next ball, walking off to a standing ovation. Despite a minor stutter in the middle order, Lachlan Shaw and Jack Edwards hit three sixes between them to seal the comfortable win.

Brief Scores:
Sydney Thunder 189/6 in 20 overs (David Warner 110*, Nic Maddinson 26; Sam Curran 3-28) lost to Sydney Sixers 191/5 in 17.2 overs (Steven Smith 100, Babar Azam 47; Nathan McAndrew 2-34) by five wickets.

The victory lifts the Sixers to fourth place. They face the Brisbane Heat on Sunday in a final league match to decide a BBL Finals berth. The Thunder's season concludes with a last-place finish.