Babar Azam’s struggles in the Big Bash League continued as the Sydney Sixers opener managed just 1 off 7 deliveries against Brisbane Heat. The right-hander fell to Xavier Bartlett, closing the face of the bat early on a fuller delivery and offering a simple leading edge to Max Bryant.
Despite Babar’s early dismissal, the Sixers comfortably chased down a target of 172, riding on another commanding effort from Steve Smith. The former Australia captain struck an aggressive half-century, while Sam Curran played a decisive role with an unbeaten 53 off just 27 balls. Lachlan Shaw also chipped in with a handy 17 off 12 as Sixers reached the target in 18.4 overs.
Earlier in the match, Brisbane Heat posted 171 for 9 in their 20 overs. Nathan McSweeney anchored the innings with an unbeaten 69 off 54 deliveries, while Michael Neser provided late momentum with a quickfire 35 off 14. Mitchell Starc was the standout performer with the ball for the Sixers, claiming 4 for 35 from his four-over spell.
Meanwhile, Babar had earlier been part of a viral moment during Sydney Sixers’ clash against Sydney Thunder, when Steve Smith denied him a single to retain the strike. The incident quickly caught the attention of fans on social media.
That match, however, showcased a very different story for the Sixers’ opening pair. Chasing 190 set by the Thunder, Smith and Babar stitched together a blistering 141-run partnership in just 12.1 overs. Smith went on to hammer a sensational century at a strike rate of 238.10, while Babar contributed 47 off 39 balls, including a remarkable over in which he smashed Ryan Hadley for 32 runs — the most expensive over in BBL history.
Although the Sixers lost wickets after Babar’s dismissal, Lachlan Shaw and Jack Edwards ensured there were no further hiccups, guiding the team to a five-wicket victory.
