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Steve Smith has delivered another Big Bash League masterclass, smashing 66 from 33 balls as the Sydney Sixers left the Hobart Hurricanes' finals chances hanging by a thread.
The Sixers, who had already locked in second spot and a place in "The Qualifier" on Saturday against first-placed Perth, defended 7-180 in a 24-run win at Bellerive Oval on Monday night.
Smith, coming off back-to-back scores of 101 off 56 and 125* off 66, posted the fastest half-century of his Twenty20 career.
He reached 50 from just 22 balls and cleared the boundary six times in total to move to the top of the six leaderboard for the tournament despite playing just four matches.
"I'm feeling really good. It's been good fun batting up the top, the freedom to just go out and play," Smith said.
"Just having the ability up the top to go out and play how I want to play and set the team up … I've enjoyed it.
"It's obviously a different role, being up the top. But it's a place I think that suits me."
The Hurricanes remain in seventh spot on the ladder and must beat the Brisbane Heat on Wednesday and rely on other results going their way to make the top five.
Their chase never really got going, with Sixers quick Sean Abbott (2-32) becoming the first player to reach 150 BBL wickets when he removed Faheem Ashraf late in the innings.
Earlier, Smith came out all guns blazing, hitting a six off the fourth ball he faced before launching one Tim David delivery onto the roof.
He appeared on track to become the first player to notch three consecutive BBL centuries, before falling LBW to a Nathan Ellis full toss in the ninth over.
Former Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin called for national selectors to ensure Smith was in their best T20 side.
Smith struggled to hit his stride and played just one match for Australia in the most recent T20 World Cup on home soil, with the hosts failing to get past the group stage in their title defence.
"I don't think you can not use someone in this sort of form. He's only 33. He's got another World Cup in him in the 20 over (format)," Haddin said during commentary on FoxCricket.
Smith will play in week one of the BBL finals series, which begins on Friday, before heading to India for Australia's Test tour.
AAP