Stunning knock from Steve Smith leads Sixers to win despite Aaron Finch ton

After six years out of the competition, run-machine Steve Smith hasn’t taken long to make his mark. He has propelled the Sixers into the top-two, overcoming the Renegades with ease despite an Aaron Finch ton.

Steve Smith made a big statement in the Sixers’ win. Picture. Phil Hillyard

That didn’t take Steve Smith long to make his mark on the Big Bash.

His six year absence from the competition

has been consigned to history because he’s back and as dominating as ever - leading the Sydney Sixers to a seven-wicket win over Aaron Finch’s Melbourne Renegades at the SCG.

Smith blasted an unbeaten 66 off 40 balls time to make a difficult run chase look like a stroll in the park as the Sixers overhauled Melbourne’s 5-175 with eight balls to spare and the biggest crowd of the season turned out to see him.

“It’s nice to be back. Doesn’t feel like six years,” he said. “I’m enjoying it and it was good to get some runs.”

Finch was impressed though not surprised.

“He’s the best player in the world for a reason and what he’s done for the game in terms of bringing people through the gates,” Finch said.

“For someone who had the courage to change his game and change his technique on what he thought was right, not what someone else thought was right, people can really resonate with that and see how much hard work he’s put in.”

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Steve Smith was on song at the SCG. Picture. Phil Hillyard

OMINOUS SIGNS

Smith’s quick return to T20 form is an ominous sign for the rest of the BBL teams heading into next week’s semi-finals.

The Sixers are currently in second – which would earn them a double chance at making the finals under the new five-team playoff system, but will drop back to third if the Adelaide Strikers win their last game at home to the Hobart Hurricanes.

If the Sixers finish second they will play beat the Melbourne Stars at the MCG for a spot in the grand final, but if they finish third they will host the winner of the elimination match between the teams that finish fourth and fifth.

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FLIPPING OUT

There’s already plenty of big wraps on the Sixers’ wicketkeeper-batsman Josh Philippe and the youngster didn’t do himself any harm by blasting his fourth half-century of the season.

Following on from his unbeaten 52 in Thursday’s win over the Brisbane Heat, Philippe made a quickfire 61, reaching his half century when he dropped to one knee and slog swept Cameron Boyce for six into the MA Noble Stand.

Smith had a bird eye’s view from the nonstrikers’ end and was happy to walk down the pitch to first pump his young lookalike.

“He’s got a tiny head, like me,” Smith said.

“Geez, he was striking some balls clean. I’ve said it so much since I came back but that kid’s got so much talent.”

Aaron Finch was given plenty of lives by the Sixers. Picture. Phil Hillyard

FREE GIFT

Fresh from making a ton in the ODI series in India, Finch really didn’t need to be given a helping hand but the Sixers gave him that and more by dropping him three times – including twice in one over from Nathan Lyon.

In no mood to share his charity after making a golden duck in his last BBL match and being run out after a mix-up with Smith in the last ODI in India, the Australian skipper made the Sixers pay big time.

He smacked seven sixes in making 109 off 68 balls – becoming just the fifth player to score two BBL hundreds.

Originally published as Stunning knock from Steve Smith leads Sixers to win despite Aaron Finch ton