Overview
- Smith turned down a routine single on the last ball of the 11th over to retain strike, then blasted a BBL‑record 32 runs off Ryan Hadley in the Power Surge as the Sixers chased 190 with a five‑wicket win in 17.2 overs.
- Explaining the move on Channel 7, Smith said he delayed the Surge by an over to attack the short boundary and aimed for 30 runs, adding he was unsure Babar was happy with the decision.
- Babar was bowled first ball of the next over for 47 and was seen striking the boundary cushion as he left, a reaction criticized on broadcast by Mark Waugh.
- Code Sports, as cited by multiple outlets, reported tense post‑match scenes in the Sixers dressing room and that Babar told teammates he felt “disrespected” by Smith’s refusal to run.
- Mitchell Starc publicly backed the tactic as standard T20 match‑up management, while former Pakistan players debated the optics, Thunder’s Chris Green was heard on air targeting Babar’s slower starts, and Smith received abusive social‑media messages referencing past controversies.