Man of the match Sherfane Rutherford came to the rescue to help the Sydney Thunder defeat the Perth Scorchers by six wickets in a last-over thriller at Perth Stadium on Friday.
The Scorchers batted first and posted 177-4 from their 20 overs after Thunder skipper David Warner won the toss and chose to field.
New Zealander Finn Allen led the way with a 31-ball 68 including six fours and five sixes while Cooper Connolly made 43*, also off 31 balls, hitting three fours and two sixes in the process.
Off-spinner Chris Green took 3-20 from his four overs for the Thunder.
Chasing 178 to win, the Thunder lost their first wicket with just three runs on the board when Blake Nikitaras fell off the bowling of Lance Morris at the start of the second over.
That wicket brought Matthew Gilkes to the crease to joint Warner and the two put on 91 for the second wicket before Gilkes and Oliver Davies fell for 43 and 3, respectively, to leave the Thunder 101-3 in the 13th over.
The wicket of Warner for 49 in the 14th over brought Rutherford to the crease to join Sam Billings with the score on 113.
17 runs and 11 balls later, Billings fell for 13, making things a bit harder for the Thunder now needing 48 runs from 28 balls with five wickets in hand.
Chris Green, the hero with the ball, came to join Rutherford and the two put on what turned out to be a crucial 22 for the sixth wicket before Green fell for 11 with two balls to go in the 18th over and the Thunder needing 26.
Hugh Weibgen joined Rutherford and hit a crucial six to end the 19th over, meaning the Thunder needed 15 runs off the final over with Rutherford facing the experienced Andrew Tye.
The West Indian got two off the first ball before hitting a boundary off the second, meaning the equation was down to nine need off four deliveries.
A dot ball from Tye then made things even more interesting, with the equation now shifting to nine off three.
Rutherford then regained the upper hand, smashing a ball over the mid-off fielder for four to make it five runs needed off two balls.
The fifth ball saw Rutherford get two leg byes, meaning they needed three of the final ball or two to force a super over.
In the end, no super over was needed as Rutherford hit the final ball for four to secure the win for the Thunder.
“It was pretty tough standing at midwicket – I actually saw everything,” Rutherford said post-match.
“I was going to see how they looked, but when I saw the blood I turned back. I’m not a fan of blood.
“In the moment, there was a bit of jostle because we didn’t know what to do. Ollie Davies was obviously sick, but we had to get him out (to the ground).
“We were planning to get (assistant coach) Dan Christian to field for us or probably play.
“(The collision) was a motivation for us – we had a little chat before we went to bat. It was just for them – everything we did tonight was for our two soldiers.
“I told myself as well, I have to do something for them.
“If I had to do it anytime, it was tonight when we needed it the most.”
Rutherford was the match winner, with his 39 not out off just 19 balls the key to Sydney’s victory.
The result ensures the Thunder defeated the Scorchers for the first time in back to back matches in Perth.
“I was pretty nervous – I don’t normally feel that way. But playing in front of this big crowd… the result is what matters the most and I’m very happy for that,” Rutherford said.
He finished 39* off 19 balls while Weibgen finished 9*.
“I had two plans – one was try and get it in the gap and get two (for the draw to force the super over). But then I was like, that doesn’t make sense. Let me try and smack it and anything can happen. I edged down the leg,” he said.
“It’s a good night for me and I’m happy to get it across the line for the team.”
Thunder captain David Warner said his side were inspired to secure the win for the injured Bancroft and Sams.
“We got the group together and just said, ‘we’ve got to lift for the boys and we’ve got to leave that on the side at the moment’,” he revealed to Fox Cricket.
“The way the boys fought there, they were in our thoughts.
Lance Morris finished with 3-22 from his four overs for the Scorchers.
The Thunder are now second in the points standings with eight points from five games, one point behind their city rivals, the Sydney Sixers.