Masterful Matt Short bludgeoned the fastest century in Adelaide Strikers history as his side posted a club record total to keep its finals hopes alive with a commanding 56-run win against the Brisbane Heat on Saturday night.

Short’s pyrotechnics capped off an insane day of BBL power hitting after Aussie star Steve Smith earlier put on a show with an unbeaten 121 off 64 in the Sixers’ win over Perth at the SCG.

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Short’s innings, however, immediately stole the cricket world’s attention when he caught fire on Saturday in Adelaide.

After missing the past three games with a broken toe, the star skipper returned to blast 109 from 54 balls, including 10 fours and seven sixes, bringing up his century in just 49 balls in a superb display of scintillating stroke play at Adelaide Oval.

The back-to-back Big Bash MVP shared a 121-run opening partnership with Chris Lynn, who belted 47 runs from 20 balls, including five fours and three sixes, after the Strikers were sent in.

Lynn was the aggressor early, smashing 42 of the Strikers’ 62 runs from the Power Play, but was unable to field after reporting hamstring tightness.

Both sides suffered injury blows with Heat skipper Colin Munro forced to bat down the order due to a finger dislocation.

Lynn and Alex Ross (44 not out) played important support roles as the Strikers raced to the second highest total in Big Bash history.

In his first game for the Strikers this season, Australian Test keeper Alex Carey batted at No.3 and crunched a four and six before he was bowled for 13.

Chasing an imposing target of 252 to win, the Heat were 2-96 after 10 overs, with the required run rate hovering just north of 15 an over.

The Heat took the Power Surge in the 11th over but it started in disastrous fashion when Nathan McSweeney was brilliantly run out by Jamie Overton.

The Heat needed 107 runs from 42 balls after Matthew Renshaw took down the 13th over, bowled by Lloyd Pope, for 23 runs including three sixes.

That equation had deteriorated when Munro bravely came in at No.7, but he lasted just two balls before holing out for a duck off the bowling of D’Arcy Short, who finished with figures of 4-15 in his 100th BBL game.

SMITH CATCHES FIRE FOR SIXERS

Steve Smith has reminded Australian selectors and international franchises that he is still a legitimate T20 threat after the stand-in Test skipper blasted one of the greatest knocks in BBL history in the Sixers’ win over Perth at the SCG.

Smith has done some special things at his home ground but this was on another level as he smashed an unbeaten 121 off 64 to join Ben McDermott at the top with his third BBL century.

But while McDermott has played 100 BBL matches, this was just the 32nd of Smith’s career having also hit back-to-back tons for Sydney a couple of seasons ago.

The heartbreak of being stranded on 9999 Test runs a week ago seemed like a distant memory as he helped the Sixers post 3/220 when it looked like the Scorchers would restrict them to around 140.

Smith and skipper Moises Henriques (46 off 28) added 113 for the third wicket before the big-hitting Ben Dwarshuis came in and cleared the fence with his first two deliveries and then sent another one sailing into the Members Stand.

But it was Smith who did the bulk of the damage with one of his finest ever knocks on a pitch that seemed tough to bat on before the runs started to flow, with AJ Tye conceding 62 from his four overs.

FINALS FLICKER

With just two wins from seven games, the Strikers started the clash at the bottom of the Big Bash table, three points adrift of the fourth-placed Heat.

But with two games remaining, the Strikers have climbed off the bottom of the ladder and are one of four teams on six points, although the Melbourne Renegades have played one less game.

NOT NESER’S NIGHT

Michael Neser’s class is unquestioned, but it wasn’t the allrounder’s night.

Neser’s two Power Play overs went for 29 runs, and he finished with the unflattering figures of 0-53.

He also dropped Matt Short when he was on 86, grassing a tough chance diving to his right, and put down a regulation catch in the deep late in the innings.

With Munro unable to bat at the top of the order, Neser was handed the tough task of opening.

In his first time in the role, Neser belted debutant Liam Haskett for back-to-back sixes in a bright start before he was well caught by Alex Ross on 18.

Despite Neser’s departure, Jack Wood and McSweeney got the chase going in the right direction with a quickfire partnership of 65 off 37 balls before Wood was caught in front by D’Arcy Short with his first ball.

WELL CAUGHT, DAD

McSweeney heaved Haskett deep into the Members’ where he was well caught by a bearded gentleman, who threw the ball back without showing much joy at his well taken crowd catch.

Turns out the reason for the deadpan response, in a bizarre coincidence, is because it was Haskett’s dad!