Overview
- Smith turned down a routine single to Babar Azam at the end of the 11th over to keep strike for the Power Surge, then blasted a BBL-record 32 runs in the next over and completed a rapid century as the Sixers beat the Thunder.
- Babar was bowled first ball of the following over and showed visible frustration by striking the boundary cushion, drawing on-air criticism from Mark Waugh.
- Code Sports reported, citing unnamed sources, that Babar told teammates he felt disrespected and that head coach Greg Shipperd intervened to calm tensions; the Sixers have not publicly detailed any dressing-room incident.
- Before the Sixers’ next game against Brisbane, broadcasters showed Smith and Babar chatting, and during the match Babar offered a reassuring pat after Smith dropped a tough chance, signaling efforts to move on.
- Babar remains under scrutiny for scoring rate and form in this BBL season, with 201 runs at a strike rate near 107 before Brisbane and a subsequent 1 off 7 in the Gabba fixture.