T20 Cricket was meant to be the ‘young men’s game’. Lighter bats, quicker wrists, and shorter attention span made it ideal for youth. However, on a beautiful Sydney evening, two 35-year-old players took over the Big Bash and quietly showed everyone that Experience, when used as a weapon, is still the most lethal ability in cricket.
Steven Smith’s 42-ball hundred for Sydney Sixers against Sydney Thunder wasn’t just fast, it was historic. His fourth BBL century made him the most prolific hundred-maker in the league’s history, while David Warner, batting for the opposition, quietly knocked off his own unbeaten 110. Together, they created a statistical anomaly not seen in men’s T20 cricket since 2007.
Smith’s Hundred Was Precision, Not Chaos
Smith reached his hundred in 41 balls faster than any Sixers batter ever and quicker than three of his own previous BBL tons. Only Craig Simmons (2013–14) and Mitchell Owen (BBL final, previous season) have gone quicker in tournament history.
This wasn’t blind slogging. Smith hit nine sixes, picked his bowlers ruthlessly, and waited for the over where the risk-reward balance tipped entirely in his favor.
The Over That Broke the Game
Ryan Hadley’s 12th over will live in BBL folklore for all the wrong reasons. Thirty-two runs, including two extras, now makes it the most expensive over in tournament history, surpassing Andrew Tye’s 31-run nightmare in 2022–23 and Lloyd Pope’s in 2024–25.
But this wasn’t just bad bowling; it was a forced error. Smith had already mapped the field, anticipated the pace-off variations, and waited. When the bowler blinked, Smith didn’t just punish him; he erased the contest.
A Partnership Built on Mismatch Hunting
The 141-run opening stand between Smith and Babar Azam wasn’t just productive; it was unprecedented for the Sixers. It’s their highest opening partnership in BBL history and only the second century opening stand they’ve ever had in the league.
The key? Contrast. Babar’s classical stability forced defensive fields; Smith’s innovation dismantled them. The bowlers couldn’t settle on a plan because there wasn’t one plan that worked for both.
Warner’s Numbers Belong in T20 Royalty
Warner’s 110* put him in elite company; he has now scored ten T20 hundreds, behind only Gayle (22) and Azam (11). With 14028 T20 runs, he is one of only four players to have surpassed 14000 T20 runs, having achieved this in only 431 innings (Gayle – 423).
Also noteworthy is that it is the first time that four 50+ scores have been made consecutively from the start of 2026; Usman Khawaja and Joe Clarke are the only other players to achieve this in the BBL.
Age Was the Statistic That Lost Meaning
Two players aged 35+ scoring hundreds in the same men’s T20 match? It hadn’t happened since 2007, when Graeme Hick and Lance Klusener did it in England.
Smith and Warner have now scored hundreds in the same professional match ten times, but never before in T20, and never as opponents. The last time they both hit tons in a game? A 2016 Test against Pakistan at the MCG.
Different format. Same dominance. The takeaway is uncomfortable for younger players: age doesn’t end careers, stagnation does.
Key Takeaway
This wasn’t old men surviving T20; it was experience redefining dominance.
FAQs
- What made Steven Smith’s hundred so special?
It was the fastest-ever BBL century for the Sixers and his fourth overall, a tournament record.
- Why is the Smith–Babar partnership significant?
Their 141-run stand is the highest opening partnership for the Sixers in BBL history.
- How rare was Warner and Smith’s double-century night?
It was the first time two players aged 35+ scored hundreds in the same men’s T20 match since 2007.
Disclaimer: This blog post reflects the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the perspectives shared and draw their own conclusions.
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