Watch: Steve Smith score 16 runs off 1 ball in Big Bash League 2022-23 match against Hobart Hurricane: Star Australian batter Steve Smith once again hopped into the headlines after he achieved a unique feat of scoring 16 runs off 1 ball in a league stage match in the ongoing season of the Big Bash League (BBL). Smith made most of the overstepped free-hit delivery and helped his side win a crucial fixture against Hobart Hurricanes on January 2023.
The incident happened during a league-stage match between Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Sixers. In the second over of the Sixers innings, Steve Smith smoked the third delivery of Joel Paris towards deep backward square leg for a six. The delivery was eventually declared illegal as Joel Paris had overstepped the popping crease.
The next delivery, which was a free hit, was declared wide by the umpires as it went wide down the leg stump and raced towards the boundary rope. A total of five runs were added to Sydney Sixers total (wide + boundary). The next ball was a legitimate one, which was whipped away to square leg for a four by Steve Smith, thus scoring 16 runs off 1 fair delivery.
Watch: Steve Smith score 16 runs off 1 ball
Smith, who was in sublime touch, ultimately scored 66 runs from 33 deliveries and helped Sixers to post a 180-run total against Hobart Hurricane. Besides Steve Smith, Ben Dwarshuis scored quickfire 30 runs from 14 deliveries with the help of 4 boundaries and a six.
In pursuit of 180 run total, Hobart Hurricane could only score 156 runs in their quota of 20 overs and lost the game by 24 runs. For Hurricanes, Zak Crawley stood as a lone warrior with a gritty 49-run knock in 45 delivery. No other batter could score in excess of 15 runs.
Interestingly, Steve Smith has continued to shine in the shortest format of cricket with two consecutive centuries. Against Adelaide Strikers in Coffs Harbour, Smith slammed 101 runs in 56 deliveries and brought up his maiden T20 ton in the history of the Big Bash League (BBL). In the very next match, he extended his purple patch and played an unbeaten knock of 125 runs in just 66 balls, the fifth-highest score in BBL history.
Sydney Sixers have already locked its place in the qualifier on Saturday against Perth Scorchers at Perth Stadium. The Sixers are placed second in the points table with 10 wins from 14 matches. Meanwhile, Hobart Hurricanes are already out of the BBL season 12.
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