Steve Smith lived up to his billing as the Big Bash League's marquee signing by belting his way to the first century in Sydney Sixers' history, helping set the Adelaide Strikers a challenging 204 runs for victory in Coffs Harbour.
In his second game back from a three-year BBL hiatus, Smith smashed 101 from 56 deliveries on Tuesday night to equal his highest score in any T20 match, set in the Indian Premier League in 2016.
Smith's 149-run partnership with Kurtis Patterson (43) was also the highest of this summer's BBL and allowed the Sixers to recover from the early loss of Josh Philippe (1) after being sent in.
The equal-best individual innings of the BBL summer came to an end when Smith scrapped plans to sneak a second run but slipped as he turned back to his crease only to be run out by Matt Short.
Smith's dismissal was bookended by the quick wickets of Patterson and captain Moises Henriques (four) in a six-ball period - the only highlight for the Strikers in the field.
The Strikers missed three early chances to nab Smith.
The former Test captain first slid into his crease just before Colin de Grandhomme hit the stumps directly, then avoided chopping on in the same over when the ball rolled from his bat but did not knock the bails off. In the next over, Smith edged Henry Thornton just shy of wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
Smith then went into overdrive, kickstarting his innings with consecutive boundaries off Wes Agar and bringing his half-century up with a four past deep point.
With a single from the last ball before drinks, the 33-year-old equalled his previous BBL high score of 66 before accelerating.
Patterson began to get in on the action in the power surge, slapping a four past deep cover to bring up the 100-run partnership.
With a six over deep backward square leg, Smith became the third man this summer to hit a BBL century and broke Philippe's record for highest score by a Sixers batsman (99).
The century adds to a brilliant summer with the bat for Smith, who made an unbeaten 200 against the West Indies and a century against South Africa.
After the Sixers lost Patterson, Smith and Henriques for four runs, Jordan Silk (31 not out) partnered with Dan Christian (15) to take the total to 5-203.
