Tension At The SCG: Smith’s “Power Surge” Gamble Sparks Fray With Babar Azam

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — The “Sydney Smash” at the SCG on Friday, January 16, 2026, delivered both history and drama as the Sydney Sixers chased down 190 to defeat the Sydney Thunder. While the match featured rare twin centuries from David Warner (110)* and Steve Smith (100), the post-match talk centered on a mid-pitch standoff between the Sixers’ superstar openers.

1. The Incident: A Tactical Denial

The tension erupted in the 11th over of the Sixers’ chase. With the partnership crossing 100, Babar Azam (on 47) looked to rotate strike after three consecutive dot balls from Chris Green.

• The Call: Steve Smith explicitly denied the single, waving Babar back to the non-striker’s end.
• The Reason: Smith wanted to retain strike for the Power Surge (the BBL’s two-over floating powerplay) starting in the 12th over. He specifically targeted the short boundary on one side of the SCG.
• The Reaction: Babar was seen gesturing in frustration and was visibly unhappy during the mid-over conversation.

2. The Justification: Smith’s “Nuclear” Over

Smith’s decision was immediately vindicated in what became the most expensive over in BBL history. Facing Thunder pacer Ryan Hadley in the first over of the Surge:

• The Carnage: Smith launched four consecutive sixes, followed by a four and a two, plundering 32 runs from the over.
• The Century: Smith reached his hundred in just 41 balls (joint second-fastest in BBL history), moving ahead of David Warner for the most centuries in the tournament’s history (4).

3. The Fallout: Babar’s “Golden” Frustration

The drama took a darker turn for Babar Azam in the 13th over. After being denied the strike during the Surge, Babar finally faced Nathan McAndrew and was bowled for 47 on the very first delivery he faced after the incident.

• Dugout Drama: A fuming Babar was seen striking the boundary cushions with his bat as he walked off.
• Absence from Field: Reports noted that Babar was not seen on the field during the post-match handshakes or celebrations, though his 141-run opening stand with Smith remains the highest opening partnership in Sixers’ history.

Match Summary: Sydney Smash 2026