Steve Smith was booed at the Gabba on Sunday night – but the Sydney Sixers superstar got the last laugh over the Brisbane Heat fans and sent his side into the BBL finals.

The 36-year-old was at his animated best – or worst, depending on how you judge it – when he was distracted by something in the crowd against the Heat.

Smith, who was on 15 at the time, played and missed a delivery from Xavier Bartlett before signalling to the grandstand behind the bowler.

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He halted play and walked towards the other end of the pitch, explaining his frustration to Heat star and former Test teammate Usman Khawaja, as well as the umpires.

Steve Smith speaks to Usman Khawaja. Getty

“We’ve seen this quite a lot in the last couple of months,” Isa Guha said on Fox Cricket.

“He’s not happy with something behind the bowler and the crowd are getting stuck in.”

Alyssa Healy claimed there might have been some “tomfoolery” from the supporters, who were spotted waving back at Smith as his frustration boiled over.

“He needs to just calm down, take a bit of time – he looks very animated and frustrated here,” Brad Haddin said on commentary.

“You don’t want to let this get you out and break your concentration. I’m not quite sure what it was, but whatever has happened has agitated Steve Smith.” 

The break in play didn’t seem to faze Smith however and only spurred him on, with the right-hander dispatching the next delivery to the boundary.

Smith finished with 54 off 40 deliveries, guiding the Sixers to a five-wicket victory with eight balls in hand and booking a spot in the Big Bash finals series.

Steve Smith celebrates his fifty. Cricket Australia via Getty Imag

Brisbane batted first and after a slow start, moved to a defendable total of 9-171 after a patient innings from Nathan McSweeney (69 not out) on their home deck.

The visitors lost opener Babar Azam cheaply at the end of the second over, but Smith managed to steady the ship before all-rounder Sam Curran (53 not out off 27 balls) blasted five fours and two sixes to get the job done.

Smith and the Sixers will back up in a grand final qualifier against the Perth Scorchers on Tuesday night at Optus Stadium, while the Heat’s season comes to an end.