When Avendano walked out to the middle on Monday, the Sixers were reeling at 4-83 and Fawad Ahmed was on a hat-trick.
Avendano, who replaced Jordan Silk (hamstring strain) in the XI, denied Fawad before thumping the Strikers attack all over Adelaide Oval with a swashbuckling 52 to re-energise the Sixers.
Avendano had a slice of luck on 15 when he was awarded a six as Henry Hunt's left foot was adjudged on television replays to have brushed the boundary cushion while completing a juggled catch.
It was a desperately close overturn after the umpire's original soft signal was out.
Avendano made the most of the reprieve, raising his 50 with his fifth six before holing out to Strikers captain Peter Siddle (2-32) in the last over.
Legspinner Fawad (3-16 off four overs) was easily the pick of the bowlers, filling the role previously held by Rashid Khan with aplomb.
Fawad bowled Josh Philippe (22) behind his legs with a slider in his first over.
He also bowled Jack Edwards (34) with a perfectly pitched legbreak while having Daniel Hughes caught behind (golden duck) off successive deliveries.
Dan Christian (22) played second-fiddle to Avendano in their 63-run, fifth-wicket stand to help resurrect the Sixers' innings which was stalling at the 15-over mark.
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