The Big Bash League season 12 has been an exciting competition so far as fans have got to see some breathtaking cricketing action on display. The exhilarating action in the league continued on Tuesday as Sydney Sixers and Adelaide Strikers locked horns in the 45th Match of the season. Strikers captain Travis Head won the toss and invited Sixers to bat first. Sixers happily accepted the invitation as they went on to score a mammoth 203/5 in their allotted 20 overs.
Star Australian batter Steve Smith was the hero of the first innings as he scored a magnificent 101 off 56 balls with the help of five fours and seven sixes in his innings. It was his maiden hundred in Big Bash League and he brought it in some style as he smacked the last ball of the 15th over bowled by Ben Manenti for a gigantic six over deep backward square leg.
Watch the video here:
Steve Smith, what a way to bring up your maiden #BBL ton! ?#BBL12 | @BKTtires | #GoldenMoment pic.twitter.com/iFOesNfeIJ
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 17, 2023
After being put in to bat first, Sixers lost their opener Josh Philippe in the very first over with just three runs on the board. From there on Steve Smith and Kurtis Patterson added 149 runs for the second wicket in just 89 balls. Patterson scored 43 off 33 balls with three fours and a six in his innings.
Both batters fell one after the other on consecutive deliveries Patterson was caught by Head on the bowling of Wes Agar while Smith was run out on the very next ball. Late cameos from Jordan Silk of 31 from 16 and Daniel Christian of 15 from 8 balls, took the Sixers to the total of 203/5 at the end of their innings.
Adelaide Strikers were reeling at 110/5 after 13 overs
Wes Agar was the pick of the bowlers who picked up 2/48 in his four overs for the Strikers. In the second innings, the Strikers lost their captain Travis Head in the third over as he departed for just 5. Matthew Short was playing a magnificent innings of 40 off 23, however, his innings was cut short by Todd Murphy who got his wicket in the seventh over leaving Strikers on 58/2.
Strikers further lost two more wickets quickly in the form of Adam Hose and Colin de Grandhomme which left them reeling at 72/4 after 8.5 overs. Strikers were 110/5 after 13 overs with Alex Carey unbeaten on 48 off 31 balls.
