The Sydney Sixers have made a statement about their Big Bash League credentials, with a Steve O'Keefe masterclass leading them to a 17-run win over the Perth Scorchers.
The former Test spinner ripped through the Scorchers' top order as the powerhouse franchise were restricted to 8-147 from their 20 overs on Saturday afternoon at the SCG.
After being set 165 for victory - thanks to Jordan Silk and Daniel Hughes half-centuries - man-of-the-match O'Keefe rocked the Scorchers with his first two overs to have them on the brink at 3-9.
Hilton Cartwright (53) and Ashton Turner (49) steadied with a 99-run partnership but their fightback eventually faded.
The win was crucial for the Sixers, who last year limped out of the blocks with six-straight losses.
O'Keefe's effort to have Sam Whiteman stumped for a golden duck with the first ball of the innings provided his side with crucial early momentum.
"It's a big sigh of relief," O'Keefe said of the Whiteman dismissal.
"We'd played a couple of trials and I got smacked around a little bit. It's a bit of luck or if Joe (Denly) doesn't take that special catch on the fence, the momentum can easily swing.
"We've been training hard and looking forward to this contest to make a statement against one of the best teams in the competition.
"It's a great start but, geez, there's a long way to go."
Without skipper Mitch Marsh due to Australian duties, the three-time champion Scorchers slumped to two losses to open the season.
After Turner was out lobbing a poor Sean Abbott delivery to Jack Edwards at backward point, the Scorchers lost 4-28.
The Sixers were superb in the field, with Denly and Hughes both producing highlight reel-worthy catches.
O'Keefe was the undoubted star of the show, finishing with 3-19, while Abbott was also crucial in the latter overs, taking 3-29.
Earlier, Silk (67no) and Hughes (62) resurrected the Sixers' innings after the Scorchers had claimed the early ascendancy.
After coming to the crease with the home side at 3-30 in the fifth over, Silk shook off a couple of blows to his body to help them to post a winning total.
"It makes things tougher, that's for sure," Cartwright said.
"In a 14-game season, you're probably looking to win at least 10 of them. It makes our margin for error a lot less.
"We've lost two games in an eight-game series and went on to win that year.
"It's certainly not at a point to hit crisis mode."
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