Watch: Steve Smith brought up his maiden century in the Big Bash League, and the first by a male Sydney Sixers cricketer, with a slog-swept six, finishing with a whirlwind 56-ball 101.

Returning to the BBL this season after a three-year absence, as a short detour before he heads to India for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Smith notched his second century in T20 cricket, and the first on Australian soil. His first T20 ton came for the Rising Pune Supergiants in IPL 2016.

He finished with seven sixes, propelling the Sixers to 203-5 against Adelaide Strikers at Coffs Harbour, in his second BBL game of the season.

There was a slice of luck too: when on 2 off 2, he nearly inside edged a delivery from Harry Conway onto his stumps. The ball slowly rolled off him and onto the stumps, but could not dislodge the bails. Conway even began celebrating, but Smith survived.

His seventh six – a slog sweep off Ben Manenti – took Smith past the three-figure mark, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd after creating history for the Sixers. However, he was dismissed the very next over: a slight mix-up with Moises Henriques while stealing a second run, and a slip of his studs, resulted in a run out.

The century is set to enhance Smith’s T20 numbers after a lacklustre couple of years in the format. In 2022, he averages 18.12 from 11 T20Is, the strike rate reading 119.83. Last year, the the strike rate was 97.18 from seven T20Is.

Watch Smith slog sweep for his maiden BBL ton:

Smith’s lucky escape, when he was on 2 off 2:

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