Steve Smith surprisingly denied Babar Azam a run, only to hammer four consecutive sixes in the next over in the recent BBL 15 game between the Sydney Sixers and the Sydney Thunder on January 16, 2026. The match was played at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), and the Sydney Sixers won the toss and chose to field first.

Thunder captain David Warner hammered 110* in 65 balls with 11 fours and 4 sixes. Nic Maddinson made 26 as Thunder made 189/6 in 20 overs. Sam Curran took 3/28 for the Sixers.

Babar Azam and Steve Smith opened the innings for the Sydney Sixers and added 141 runs for the first wicket in 12.1 overs. The partnership was dominated by Steve Smith as Babar Azam fell for 47 in 39 balls with 7 fours.

Steve Smith, on the other hand, hammered a 41-ball century, making 100 in 42 balls with 5 fours and 9 sixes. This was the second-fastest century in BBL history, and he helped the Sixers win the game by 5 wickets in 17.2 overs. Only Craig Simmons and Mitchell Owen sit above Smith, having scored centuries off 39 balls.

Meanwhile, during the Smith-Babar 141-run opening wicket partnership, on the final ball of the 11th over, Babar Azam drove the ball to long-on and took off for a run. However, Smith denied Babar the run and decided to take the power surge and wanted to take the strike.

Babar Azam was not happy and questioned Smith for denying the run, and Smith explained that he wanted to take strike as he was taking the power surge in the next over.  

The next over, the 12th one, was part of the power surge and was bowled by Ryan Hadley. Smith took the attack to the pacer as he smoked four sixes off the first four deliveries and then hit a four off a no-ball on the fifth delivery.

Hadley bowled a wide on the next ball, and Smith completed the over by taking two runs on the final ball. This meant that Steve Smith hit four sixes and one four as Hadley conceded 32 runs in the over, completely changing the tide in the Sixers’ favor.

Here are the highlights of Smith's 100-run knock.