Steve Smith beats David Warner BACK-TO-BACK Big Bash League Centuries

Sydney Sixers marquee player Steve Smith has posted the highest score of his Twenty20 professional career, claiming to be bragging about David Warner in a 125-run thrashing of the Sydney Thunder.

A crowd of 38,757 turned out to see the BBL’s two superstar recruits for the first time since December 2013 in a match that was cut short to 19 overs apiece due to rain.

With his unbeaten 125, Smith netted more than double the total scored by the entire Thunder team – knocked out of the tournament for a paltry 62, leaving her fate in the finals hanging in the balance when the tournament reaches its sharp conclusion.

Steve Smith hosted another master class to help the Sixers hit a monster total on Saturday

The Thunder struggled for answers in the face of Sixers spinner Steve O’Keefe, who posted the best numbers of his BBL career at 4-10.

But the night belonged to Smith.

Smith’s performance surpassed the 101 he hit against the Adelaide Strikers on Tuesday and was the fifth-best inning in BBL history.

He now has a 131 batting average this BBL summer and has hit the most sixes despite only playing three games.

“That’s the best 100 I’ve seen live,” O’Keefe said of Smith’s knock.

Smith gave the Thunder the runaround when he hit 125 of 66 balls at the SCG

“The way (Smith) comes back and stays connected and wants to win for every team he plays for is pretty special. You can tell he’s obsessed with cricket and wants to score runs.”

However, Smith’s furious innings may come at a price. Later that evening he appeared on the field limping and told Fox Cricket he was suffering from back spasms.

Warner fell far short of his international teammate’s challenge, managing just 16 balls from 23 when the Thunder collapsed under the weight of the Sixers’ 2-187.

While Smith’s back-to-back centuries have validated Cricket Australia’s decision to spend extra money to bring him back to the BBL, Warner now has one last chance to impress this T20 summer.

The 33-year-old celebrates with the fans as he leaves the field after keeping his wicket

Smith took full advantage of the SCG’s short borders to punish the Thunder’s bowling attack.

He beat Australian international all-rounder Daniel Sams four times for six, including one that sailed into the second tier of the SCG grandstand.

Joel Davies and Gurinder Sandhu were each hit twice for six, while Smith finished under his 14 limits with nine highs.

The tap helped the Sixers recover from early losses to Josh Philippe (10) and Kurtis Patterson (2), both of whom passed in the same sandhu (2-42).

They were the only wickets lost as Smith and Moises Henriques (45no) forged a 155-run partnership – the largest of the tournament’s current edition.

Even without test spinner Nathan Lyon, who was out again with knee pain, the Sixers bowlers had the guests under control.

Smith was awarded the Player of the Match award after the Sixers won by 125 runs

By the drinks break, the Thunder had more batsmen in the dugout (four) than limits on the scoreboard (three).

Warner attempted to steady the ship as batters fell around him but was dealt with after drinks on the first delivery, hitting a short ball from O’Keefe high into the middle of the wicket where it was caught by Jordan Silk .

When O’Keefe bowled Sams later in the same over, the Thunder fell to 6-40 and were out of the game.

The Thunder must now defeat the Melbourne Stars on Wednesday and then hope other results come their way to play the final.

“We were beaten by a far better team tonight,” said Thunder coach Trevor Bayliss.

“We’ve been brilliant at various times so we’re looking forward to playing well again on Wednesday.”