Turner's 99* helps Perth Scorchers jump to third spot

Skipper Ashton Turner upstaged his high-profile teammates after blasting a T20 career best score of 99 not out as Perth Scorchers crushed Sydney Thunder at Engie Stadium.

Sent in to bat, Scorchers were wobbling at 34 for 3 on a green-tinged surface before Turner rescued the innings with a 41-ball whirlwind that featured eight sixes.

Turned enjoyed the bouncy conditions, a notable contrast from the ground's traditional slower and lower surface where Scorchers had historically struggled.

Even though they had a huge total of 202 for 8 on the board, Scorchers were nervous after failing to defend 257 for 6 against Heat at the Gabba on December 19. Their anxieties heightened when David Warner and Matthew Gilkes struck a 60-run opening partnership inside seven overs.

Having batted at No. 3 to start the season, Warner enjoyed being back at the top of the order before hitting quick Mahli Beardman to a forward diving Finn Allen at long-on after making 25.

A horrible mix-up led to Gilkes being run out on 33, increasing the pressure on Sam Konstas who had swapped batting positions with Warner. He was in fine touch and showed off his inventiveness with well-executed reverse sweeps.

But left-arm spinning allrounder Cooper Connolly dismissed Cameron Bancroft and Sam Billings on consecutive balls to leave Thunder in tatters at the halfway mark. With wickets falling around him, Konstas lost momentum and he fell for 21 before Thunder well bowled out in the 18th over.

It was a major turn of events after Thunder had started the game brightly with the ball. Thunder's bowlers had struggled to make inroads in the powerplay this season, but seamers Nathan McAndrew and Reece Topley caused havoc with the new ball in seaming conditions.

Mitchell Marsh's early season struggles continued after nicking off a pearler of a McAndrew delivery that angled in. It was a disappointment for Marsh who had whacked a huge six over deep square leg on the previous delivery.

After a luckless opening over, Topley was rewarded when a leading edge from Allen popped up to extra cover as Scorchers slumped to 18 for 2.

It brought to the crease Josh Inglis, squeezing his first BBL game of the season between Test matches. Having played in the second and third Ashes Tests, Inglis was dropped for the Boxing Day Test but the swift two-day finish meant he was available for this game before linking up with Australia's squad for the Ashes finale in Sydney.

Inglis showcased his prowess against spin by dancing down the pitch and whacking offspinner Chris Green into the crowd. But he soon trudged off the field after miscuing his favoured pull shot to deep square leg.

Scorchers were in major trouble, but a typically ice-cool Turner started with consecutive boundaries in a sign of things to come.

In the blink of an eye, Scorchers had recovered to 86 for 3 by the halfway mark with Turner speeding past in-form Connolly. He whacked a trio of sixes against a flummoxed Green on the back of Connolly having made legspinner Shadab Khan pay for missing his lengths.

Connolly on 24 was dropped by Gilkes on the ropes at deep midwicket, but he could not capitalise after holing out in the 13th over. Thunder appeared to be fighting back when Shadab then dismissed Laurie Evans after an overturned lbw decision.

But Thunder fell away at the death with Scorchers' decision to take the power surge in the 17th over proving a masterstroke. Such Scorchers' wealth of batting riches, Aaron Hardie came in at No.7 having in recent seasons mostly held the No.3 spot.

Hardie belted McAndrew for four consecutive boundaries to perfectly complement Turner, who powered past his highest T20 score of 84 not out.

After blasting consecutive sixes to start the final over, Turner hit a single to move to the brink of a maiden T20 ton but did not again receive the strike as Ashton Agar and Joel Paris fell on the final two deliveries of the innings.