Steve Smith showed clear frustration on the cricket field. His Sydney Sixers teammate Babar Azam made a puzzling fielding error during their Big Bash League match against Sydney Thunder. The incident created a moment of comedy and confusion for everyone watching.
Fielding Blunder Leaves Smith Baffled
The funny moment happened in the sixteenth over of the Thunder innings. Nic Maddinson hit a ball straight down the ground off Ben Manenti's bowling. Steve Smith ran in quickly from wide long-off. Babar Azam stood closer at long-on.
Smith slowed down when he saw Babar was nearer to the ball. But the Pakistani batsman made no real effort to stop it. He almost jogged past the ball as it rolled to the boundary rope. Smith threw his hands up in complete bewilderment. He could not understand why Babar did not field the ball.
Another Near Miss Follows Immediately
The very next ball brought another potential fielding mistake. This time Smith dove brilliantly to prevent a boundary. He had full control of the ball as it stopped in front of him. Babar began moving toward Smith to collect the ball.
The Pakistan star changed his mind at the last moment. He decided against taking the ball from his captain. Smith finally managed to throw the ball without further interruption. Television commentators could not hide their amusement at the sequence.
"Get out the way Babar!" one commentator exclaimed loudly. Another repeated the phrase with even more emphasis. The Big Bash League's official social media account shared video of the incidents. They asked fans for their reactions to the fielding moments between the two star players.
Batting Redemption Saves the Day
Despite the fielding mishaps, Babar Azam and Steve Smith produced magic with their bats later. Sydney Thunder captain David Warner played a magnificent innings. He remained not out after scoring 110 runs from just 65 deliveries. His effort helped Thunder reach a competitive total of 189 runs for six wickets.
Steve Smith responded with an even more explosive performance. He smashed a century from only 43 balls. Smith outdid his former Australian teammate Warner with his blistering strike rate. Babar Azam supported him well from the other end.
The Pakistani batsman scored 47 runs from 39 balls before getting out. More importantly, their opening partnership yielded a massive 141 runs. They achieved this in just 12.1 overs of power hitting. This partnership marked Babar's best batting performance in the current BBL season.
Babar's Season Statistics Improve
The partnership took Babar Azam's season tally to 202 runs. He has played nine matches in the tournament so far. His strike rate now stands at 108.60. While his fielding raised questions, his batting provided some answers during this match.
The Sydney Sixers will hope for more such partnerships from their opening pair. They will want fewer fielding errors in their remaining matches. The Big Bash League continues to produce exciting cricket moments like these.
