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 Blundstone Arena on Monday night.
Smith, coming off back-to-back centuries, 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.
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 on to 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 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.
He had a life on 25 when Caleb Jewell parried a difficult chance over the boundary.
The Sixers lost momentum, and a clump of wickets, after Smith's departure before Ben Dwarshuis chipped in with an important 14-ball 30 late in the innings.
English import Zak Crawley top-scored for Hobart with 49 from 45 balls, while Tim David showed some glimpses with 24 from 13.
