Marsh excelled with both the bat and ball
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Perth Scorchers all-rounder Mitchell Marsh smashed an unbeaten 44 and took one wicket to lead his side to a 50-run win over the Sydney Thunder.
The Thunder, who are the defending champions, have now tasted defeat in all four of the Big Bash League (BBL) games thus far and sit at the bottom of the points table.
Choosing to bowl first, Clint McKay gave the Thunder an early breakthrough as he removed Shaun Marsh via a superb catch from Ben Rohrer for just four runs on the fifth ball of the match.
Michael Klinger and Ian Bell made up for the early loss of Marsh with a magnificent 85-run partnership before Klinger was sent packing by Thunder skipper Shane Watson for 38.
Bell went on to make 45 before he was stumped by debutant Jay Lenton off the bowling of Chris Green.
Scorchers skipper Adam Voges did not last long at the crease as he sustained a leg injury and had to retire hurt on three.
However, a quickfire 44 from Mitchell Marsh, coupled with Ashton Turner’s 20, saw the Scorchers finish on 177/4 off their 20 overs.
Green, Watson, McKay and Pat Cummins took one wicket each.
Chasing 178 to win, the Thunder got off to a dismal start as opening batsman Ryan Gibson was clean bowled by David Willey for three runs.
Willey struck again two balls later as Kurtis Patterson was caught behind for 11.
Things went from bad to worse for the Thunder as they continued to lose wickets at regular intervals until they were reduced to 50/6 in the 11th over.
Lenton and Cummins put up a valiant fight as they amassed a 42-run stand before Lenton was removed by Marsh for 16.
Cummins, meanwhile, ended up making 39 off 26 balls, which included six boundaries, before he was run out by wicketkeeper Sam Whiteman.
With their top and middle order having completely crumbled, the Thunder fell well short of their target as they finished on 127/8 off their 20 overs.
Willey was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets, while Marsh, Turner, Andrew Tye, Mitchell Johnson and Jhye Richardson claimed one wicket each.
Marsh was named Man of the Match.