Steve Smith amuses and delights, Sam Curran fires as the Sydney Sixers lock in BBL finals berth

Steve Smith has commanded the BBL limelight for the second time in three nights, helping the Sydney Sixers to a five-wicket win over the Brisbane Heat and a qualifying final against the Perth Scorchers on Tuesday.

Smith was typically unorthodox, at times chaotic, but ultimately effective during his innings of 54, playing the most eccentric of pantomime villains to a rowdy, capacity crowd at the Gabba.

But it was England all-rounder Sam Curran, making his final contribution of the competition before leaving for international duty, who got the job done for the Sixers, striking 53 not out to guide his team home with eight balls to spare.

That came after Mitchell Starc, playing just his 12th game in the competition, took four wickets to restrict the Heat to a total of 9-171.

The result means the Sixers finish second and are rewarded with a priceless double chance in the finals, while the Heat end the season in fifth and bow out of the competition.

Fresh from his explosive century against the Thunder on Friday, Smith struck the first two balls of his innings to the rope in an ominous sign for the Heat.

But with the Sixers chasing 172 for victory, he and opening partner Babar Azam — any bad blood from "single-gate" seemingly made good — were unable to emulate their Friday night fireworks.

Babar tamely chipped to mid-on in the second over to continue his much anticipated but so-far disappointing BBL debut, ending the regular season with just 202 runs from 10 knocks.

Smith oscillated between the sublime and ridiculous throughout his innings, striking boundaries to all parts but also finding time to fall over while ramping Test teammate Michael Neser as well as stop the game, stride down the pitch and take serious issue with a throng of animated Heat fans above the sight screen.

He passed 50 for the 13th time in Big Bash cricket but was dropped in the deep and then bowled by the skiddy Zaman Khan not long after, before Curran (53 not out from 27) took control of the chase, smashing five fours and two sixes to win the magenta-clad Sydneysiders the game.

Earlier, Nathan McSweeney (69 not out) anchored the Heat's innings after a flurry of early wickets had his side teetering at 3-19, with Starc (4-35) dismissing Jack Wildermuth and Matt Renshaw on his way to career best BBL figures.

McSweeney scored at less than a run a ball for much of his innings, but exploded late, helping his side to a feasibly defendable total.

Neser, too, played a crucial hand with the bat, coming to the crease at 6-56 in the 15th over and scoring 35 from just 14 deliveries.

After the Sixers and Scorchers lock horns on horns on Tuesday, the Hurricanes and Stars will contest an elimination final in Hobart on Wednesday.

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