Stellar knocks from Oliver Davies and Alex Hales have helped the Sydney Thunder post the fourth-largest total in Big Bash League history and storm to a 62-run defeat of the Hobart Hurricanes.
The Thunder finished 6-228 before Matthew Wade's own rapid-fire effort (67 runs from 30 balls) had the Hurricanes in the contest up to their necks and ready to break the record for largest-ever BBL chase.
But after forgotten allrounder Ben Cutting took Wade's wicket and Brendan Doggett (4-35) ripped through the tail, the Thunder closed in on their third consecutive win and put their disappointing start to the summer firmly in the past.
On an extremely batter-friendly wicket at Albury's Lavington Sports Ground, Davies slogged away to the first half-century of his young BBL career, while English opener Hales was the steady hand after the Thunder were sent in.
Only Nathan Ellis (4-37) was able to consistently trouble the batting order as Davies (65) proved especially keen to exploit the short boundaries down the ground.
Six of his ten boundaries went over either long on or long off before he was caught by Paddy Dooley at backward point from Ellis' bowling.
Hales (77) became the first man to surpass 200 runs for the summer and appeared set to finish the innings unbeaten until he was caught on the boundary rope by Tim David on the first ball of the final over.
Davies caught the destructive D'Arcy Short (two) at point from Brendan Doggett's bowling to get the Hurricanes' chase off to a meek start but Wade wasted no time making amends.
The skipper hit three sixes from ramp shots in the same over Short was dismissed and equalled his own record for fastest 50 by a Hurricane. Wade hit six sixes as he reached his half-century from only 19 deliveries.
Called in to replace the injured Gurinder Sandhu, Cutting enticed Wade into toeing the ball to Rilee Rossouw at backward point on only his second delivery of the BBL summer.
Wade reviewed the decision, hoping it was a bump ball, but the wicket stood after multiple replays and the Hurricanes fell to 3-105.
Promoted up the batting order, Tim David (25) found himself run out after a pin-point throw from substitute Joel Davies, who was fielding in the BBL for the very first time.
Davies, younger brother of Oliver, threw straight to wicketkeeper Matthew Gilkes from midwicket to spring David as he tried to sneak back for a second run.
The Hurricanes were officially in trouble when their last two recognised batters, Asif Ali and Shadab Khan, were both caught in the space of seven deliveries.
The Hurricanes were all out for 166 with three overs to play.
