Watch: Steve Smith fell short of becoming the first batter to score three T20 hundreds in a row in strange fashion, out lbw to Nathan Ellis for 66 after missing a full toss.

Sydney Sixers’ Smith was well en route to his third successive T20 hundred after racing away to 66 in only 32 deliveries – had he got to three figures, he would have been the first batter in history to do so three times in a row in the shortest format. However, history eluded him as he fell to Ellis in the ninth over of the innings after playing all around a full-toss.

Smith moved towards the off-stump, with the ball seemingly going down leg. He perhaps failed to read the line correctly as the ball hit him on the knee roll and the on-field umpire adjudged him out.

The former Australia skipper took the DRS but could not survive with three reds being shown on the screen. Smith, who had scored 101 and 125* in his last two innings was unable to get to his third successive three-digit score, but his innings helped Sixers win by 24 runs.

Watch Smith’s dismissal here:

GONE 🔴🔴🔴

Massive wicket for Nathan Ellis! #BBL12 pic.twitter.com/MznkEAVxxp

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 23, 2023