Overview
- At the end of the 11th over, Steve Smith declined a single to retain strike for the Power Surge, then took 32 off Ryan Hadley in a BBL-record over and later completed a century.
- Babar Azam finished with 47 off 39 and showed visible frustration after his dismissal, including striking the boundary cushions with his bat.
- Smith said he delayed the surge by one over to target the short boundary and aimed for roughly 30 runs, a plan he said delivered as intended.
- Mitchell Starc supported the tactical choice, comparing it to common T20 practices that prioritize favorable match-ups and, at times, retiring batters.
- Australian media reported both Smith and Babar skipped post-match duties, and unconfirmed headlines suggested Babar could cut ties with the Sixers, while the team next plays the Brisbane Heat in what local reports describe as a virtual knockout.