Brisbane Heat had some moments of magic but Sam Billings' five sixes in a power-packed knock has helped the Sydney Thunder to 7-196 to take the box seat in their BBL clash at the Gabba.
Billings (64 off 27) employed the regulation and reverse sweep well for the visitors off Heat spinners Mitchell Swepson and Mujeeb Ur Rahman before targeting the quicks in a brutal knock.
His innings came after Alex Hales (35 off 26) and Jason Sangha (39 off 28) had set the tone, leaving the Heat a huge chase if they're to win a second straight game.
It could have been an even steeper task if not for Swepson (2-27 from four overs), the fringe Australian spinner bowling Sangha around his legs.
Xavier Bartlett also took two wickets but went for 45 from his four overs, while Mark Steketee also grabbed two wickets in his return from national duties.
The Thunder held back the in-form Alex Ross until the final over despite him coming off three unbeaten knocks, his last a whirlwind 77 off 49.
Ross thought he'd found a boundary, but his lap sweep was well caught by wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson.
Ross had deflected the ball past his off-stump towards fine leg, but Peirson reacted incredibly well to pouch the catch in his left hand.
Tom Cooper entered the game as the Heat's X-factor sub, in for Tom Abell after the English recruit jammed his hip while attempting an outfield catch in the second over.
English quick Saqib Mahmood will debut for the Thunder at the expense of the in-form Gurinder Sandu.