SATURDAY’S double-header in the Big Bash League saw a pair of tons as the Sydney Sixers and the Adelaide Strikers claimed wins over the Perth Scorchers and Brisbane Heat respectively.

The day’s action kicked off with the much anticipated return of Steve Smith as a Sixer, and the all-time great delivered with his third century in the BBL. He blasted an epic ton to remind the cricketing world that he is still a weapon in T20 format and is box office entertainment for his three matches in the Big Bash.

The Scorchers won the toss at the SCG and elected to bowl, but had a nightmare day with ball in hand and in the field, as Sydney set the total at a whopping 220. Although some late heroics from Ashton Turner (66 not out from 32 deliveries), it was not enough as the Sixers got the job done by 14 runs.

The action then moved to Adelaide Oval, where the Strikers were relentless in their 56-run win over the Heat on Saturday in Alex Carey‘s return to the domestic competition. Although the gloveman was unable to make a massive impact at the crease (13 runs), it was Matt Short who starred for Adelaide and rewrote the history books.

The Strikers opener whacked 109 runs from just 54 deliveries, combining well with Chris Lynn (49 off 20) to post the highest total in club history and the second-highest in the history of the BBL at 251 runs from their 20 overs.

Although the Heat tried valiantly to match this thanks to a solid knock from Nathan McSweeney, who had 43 off 24 before being run out, the visitors were simply no match for the output produced by the Strikers in the first innings, falling considerably short as Adelaide bowled out the Heat.

SCORECARD (Sydney Sixers vs. Perth Scorchers)

RESULT: Sixers won by 14 runs
POTM: Steve Smith (Sydney Sixers)
BAT FLIP: Scorchers won and elected to bowl

Sydney Sixers
Steve Smith 121 (64), Moises Henriques 46 (28)
Ashton Agar 1/27 (4), Cooper Connelly 1/27 (3)

Perth Scorchers
Ashton Turner 66 (32), Sam Fanning 41 (29)
Sean Abbott 4/43 (11), Moises Henriques 1/7 (1)

INNINGS BREAKDOWN:

Power Play (1-4):
Sixers: 1/19
Scorchers: 2/34

Halfway (10):
Sixers: 2/68
Scorchers: 2/89

Totals:
Sixers: 3/220
Scorchers: 7/206

SQUADS

Sydney Sixers: Josh Philippe (wk), Steve Smith, Kurtis Patterson, Moises Henriques (c), Jordan Silk, Jack Edwards, Joel Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Hayden Kerr, Sean Abbott, Todd Murphy

Perth Scorchers: Sam Fanning, Finn Allen (wk), Aaron Hardie, Cooper Connolly, Ashton Turner (c), Nick Hobson, Ashton Agar, Matthew Spoors, Jhye Richardson, Andrew Tye, Jason Behrendorff

SCORECARD (Adelaide Strikers vs. Brisbane Heat)

RESULT: Strikers won by 56 runs
POTM: Matt Short (Adelaide Strikers)
BAT FLIP: Heat won and elected to bowl

Adelaide Strikers
Matt Short 109 (54), Chris Lynn 47 (20)
Matt Kuhnemann 3/50 (4), Mitch Swepson 2/41 (4)

Brisbane Heat
Nathan McSweeney 43 (24), Matt Renshaw 34 (16)
D’Arcy Short 4/15 (3), Liam Haskett 2/43 (3)

INNINGS BREAKDOWN:

Power Play (1-4):
Strikers: 0/62
Heat: 1/60

Halfway (10):
Strikers: 1/134
Heat: 2/96

Totals:
Strikers: 5/251
Heat: 195

SQUADS

Adelaide Strikers: Matt Short (c), Chris Lynn, Alex Carey (wk), Ollie Pope, Alex Ross, Jamie Overton, D’Arcy Short, Brendan Doggett, Jordan Buckingham, Lloyd Pope, Liam Haskett

Brisbane Heat: Jack Wood, Colin Munro (c), Nathan McSweeney, Matthew Renshaw, Max Bryant, Tom Alsop (wk), Michael Neser, Xavier Bartlett, Mitch Swepson, Matt Kuhnemann, Spencer Johnson