Smith hammers back-to-back tons as Sixers smash Thunder

The Sydney Sixers waited 12 seasons for their first men's century; they now have two in two matches, and both belong to Steve Smith.

The Australian superstar treated a sold out SCG of 38,757 to a knock for the ages in the Sydney Smash on Saturday night, belting his second straight hundred to lead the Sixers to an imposing 2-187 from 19 overs.

Smith crunched an incredible nine sixes in his 66-ball stay – including one over mid-wicket off spinner Usman Qadir to bring up his century – finishing unbeaten on 125 as the Sixers posted their second largest total of all-time against crosstown rivals the Thunder.

It was the equal second most of all-time in a KFC BBL innings behind the 11 Chris Lynn has hit twice and Chris Gayle and Craig Simmons once.

The 33-year-old now has 262 runs striking at 175 in his three hits in BBL|12, and Sixers mastermind Greg Shipperd and skipper Moises Henriques appear to have uncovered Smith's ideal position in the shortest format.

His 18 sixes in those three knocks also have him equal top for the most times clearing the fence in the tournament alongside Tim David and Matt Short who have played 12 and 13 games in BBL|12 respectively.

"I've been playing cricket with him for 15-20 years, but that's probably one of the best T20 knocks I've ever seen," Henriques said on the Fox Cricket broadcast at the innings break.

"That was incredible to watch, some of those shots, I stand at the other end just gobsmacked.

"That's not an easy wicket to bat on. This is a much worse wicket than the wicket we saw in Coffs (Harbour), this innings actually blows that last innings out of the park.

"I'm speechless, to be honest."

Smith went on the attack straight away with the match reduced to 19 overs per side after a late afternoon Sydney squall swept across the SCG and delayed the start by 15 minutes.

He got off the mark with a four through backward point from his first delivery faced, and cracked a huge slog sweep six from Daniel Sams first delivery of the match.

Losing partners Josh Philippe (10) and Kurtis Patterson (2) in the space of five balls in the fourth over only slowed him down for a brief period as Sams (0-47 from four overs) again copped the treatment from as Australia's No.3 as his second over of the match went for 13.

From there it was one-way traffic as Smith and Henriques slammed an unbeaten 155-run partnership for the third wicket in just 15 overs – the highest partnership of the tournament so far.

Henriques played the perfect support role, finishing 45 not out from 36 balls with two sixes of his own.

In reply, the Thunder were never in it as they slumped to 3-17 with the hero from last match Matthew Gilkes, Blake Nikitaras and Oliver Davies all out for single figures.

When David Warner fell for 16 (23) with the score 5-38 in the ninth over, the Thunder's hopes went with him as they were bowled out for 62 in the 15th over to leave their finals hopes hanging by a thread.

They'll remain in fourth for now on 12 points but the Heat (11 points) and Hurricanes (10 points) each have two matches still in hand.

It was the Thunder's second batting capitulation of BBL|12 following their infamous 15 all out and means they now have two of the competition's five lowest totals of all-time this season.

Wily veteran tweaker Steve O'Keefe was the chief destroyer for the Sixers, finishing with 4-10 from three overs, while new Test squad member Todd Murphy also bowled superbly with 12 dots in his 1-18.

The win keeps the Sixers hopes of a top-of-the-table finish alive, although they'll need to win their final match against the Hurricanes in Hobart on Monday and hope the Scorchers lose to the Renegades tomorrow.