The Perth Scorchers moved to the top of the KFC T20 Big Bash League table on Wednesday after thumping the Sydney Thunder by nine wickets at ANZ Stadium.
It was the Scorchers fifth win in succession after they lost their opening game to the Hobart Hurricanes, and they moved two points clear of the Tasmanian side on top of the table with a 5-1 record.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Thunder were ripped apart by seamer Nathan Coulter-Nile (3-9 from three overs) and veteran spinner Brad Hogg (2-8 off four) on their way to dismissing the home side for 99 from 19.2 overs.
In reply the Scorchers overcame the early dismissal of Luke Ronchi to comfortably reach 1-103 with 35 balls to spare.
Thunder opener Usman Khawaja (8 off 8) was unlucky to be out off Coulter-Nile's first ball when he was adjudged to have edged one while attempting a cut, although replays appeared to show no contact, and he was caught by wicketkeeper Ronchi.
After a sedate start by his standards, Chris Gayle (20 off 16) cracked his first six of Mitch Marsh but the slugger was out three balls later when he edged one from Coulter-Nile to Ronchi, and despite being given not out by the umpire, a video review sealed the West Indian's fate.
Thunder captain Dan Smith (6 off 10) became Coulter-Nile's third victim when he edged one to Marsh at slip, leaving the Thunder in all sorts of trouble at 3-35 after six overs.
Hogg clean bowled Jason Floros for four, and the 40-year-old showed he still has plenty of agility in the field with a nice pick-up and direct hit to run out Luke Butterworth (5 off 11).
Ben Dunk (13 off 18) was run out thanks to a brilliant direct hit from Nathan Rimmington, and Hogg bowled Sean Abbott for a duck as the Thunder imploded.
Tim Armstrong (25 off 25) and Scott Coyte (12 off 11) put on 33 for the eighth wicket until a direct hit from Coulter-Nile ended Coyte's knock, and Armstrong fell next ball when he was caught in the deep by Simon Katich off Rimmington.
Another fantastic bit of fielding from Coulter-Nile to dismiss Trent Copeland (1 off 2) brought the Thunder innings to a close.
Without South African Herschelle Gibbs because of a foot injury, the Scorchers looked shaky early in their dig when a sizzling ball from Coyte got through Ronchi's (0 off 2) defences in the first over.
But they soon steadied, and Marsh (64 not out off 58) joined skipper Marcus North (38 not out off 25) to see them home in the 15th over.
