Smith equals Big Bash century record ahead of Sri Lanka series

Steve Smith marked his first appearance in this year's Big Bash League by scoring an unbeaten 121 runs to lead the Sydney Sixers to a 14-run win over the Perth Scorchers.

Smith reached his century from just 58 deliveries before hitting three sixes in the final over as the Sixers posted a total of 220-3, with Moises Henriques (46) also impressing.

This was the Australian's fourth T20 century overall and his third in the Big Bash, and now shares the record for the most centuries in the competition with Ben McDermott.

Smith, however, achieved the milestone in just 32 Big Bash innings, significantly fewer than McDermott's 100 matches.

He has now averaged nearly 100 in his last eight innings in the tournament, with his display coming just after helping Australia win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India.

Smith's availability for the Sixers this season is restricted due to his national team commitments. He is scheduled to play only two more Big Bash games, on January 15 and 17.

Following these matches, he will captain Australia in their two-Test series against Sri Lanka at the beginning of next month, hoping to continue his imperious batting form.

3 - Steve Smith's 121* (@SixersBBL) vs Perth Scorchers today was his 3rd @BBL century - the joint-most of any player in the history of the competition (also Ben McDermott - 3); 82 of his runs came from boundaries, the most by a Sixers player in a BBL innings. Smash.#BBL14 pic.twitter.com/eNthB485Xe

— OptaJason (@OptaJason) January 11, 2025