Steve Smith produced another KFC BBL|12 masterpieces, blasting 66 from 33 balls as the Sydney Sixers left the Hobart Hurricanes playoffs dreams hanging by a thread at Blundstone Arena, as the Sydney Sixers gave the Hobart Hurricanes finals ambitions a significant blow with a 24-run victory.
Super Smith Defeated Hobart Hurricanes
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The Sixers, who had already secured second place and a position in The Qualifier against first-placed Perth on Saturday, defended 7-180 in a 24-run victory at Blundstone Arena on Monday night. Smith, who had just produced back-to-back hundreds, hit the quickest half-century of his T20 career. Despite playing just four matches, he achieved 50 from 22 balls and cleared the boundary six times to climb to the top of the tournament’s six standings.
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The Hurricanes are still in seventh place on the standings and will need to win the Brisbane Heat on Wednesday and depend on other outcomes to reach the top five. Their pursuit never really got underway, with Sixers’ quick Sean Abbott (2-32) becoming the first player to collect 150 BBL wickets late in the innings when he dismissed Faheem Ashraf. Earlier in the game, Smith came out firing, striking a six off the fourth ball he faced before blasting one Tim David delivery toward the roof.
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Before falling lbw to a Nathan Ellis full toss in the ninth over, he seemed to be on course to become the first player to score three consecutive BBL hundreds. Former Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has urged national selectors to include Smith in their strongest T20 squad. Smith appeared in only one match for Australia in the most recent T20 World Cup, which was held on home soil, and saw the hosts fail to advance beyond the group stage in their title defense.
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I don’t believe you can’t employ someone in this capacity. He’s just 33 years old. He has another World Cup in the 20 over (format) in him “Haddin said during a FoxCricket broadcast. Smith will participate in the first week of the BBL finals series, which starts on Friday, before departing for Australia’s Test tour of India. Caleb Jewell parried a tough opportunity beyond the boundary, giving him life on 25.
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After Smith’s departure, the Sixers lost momentum and a slew of wickets until Ben Dwarshuis chipped in with a vital 14-ball 30 late in the innings. English import Zak Crawley led the way for Hobart with 49 from 45 balls, while Tim David showed flashes of brilliance with 24 from 13.
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