The Sydney Sixers and Michael Lumb will enjoy their Christmas feasts at the head of the table after another Big Bash League escape left them looking down on the rest of the competition.
Moises Henriques' side sit in top spot heading into Christmas courtesy of two wins in their past two outings; the latest a three-wicket win over Melbourne Renegades on Wednesday night.
Henriques raised eyebrows by sending the Renegades - and their fearsome opening duo Chris Gayle and Aaron Finch - in to bat after winning the toss.
Both sides confessed after the match they felt Melbourne's total of 4-172 was going to be too much.
Henriques admitted he saw the target of 173 was "10 or 15 runs too many", while Nathan Rimmington said he didn't think it was a 170-run wicket.
The Sixers also had the memory of their limp opening night effort against the Thunder to live down.
By the end of the night, the Sydney side had their best-ever chase in the bag.
The match-winners were English veteran Lumb and Henriques, who combined for a 101-run stand to put the contest on their terms.
Lumb (63 off 35) was "really chuffed" to snatch the win after the Sixers had been 2-21.
"To lose two early ones, you're stuck between going hard and rebuilding ... we rebuilt quite nicely," he told Channel Ten.
Henriques (62 off 38) said if it weren't for Lumb sticking around there wouldn't have been a contest.
"He let me flow into my innings while I nudged them around," he said.
"If it wasn't for his presence early on we would have been up a creek."
There was also redemption in the field for Lumb.
The big-hitting 36-year-old dropped a sitter in the Sixers-first up loss to Sydney Thunder but atoned by catching Cameron White in the deep and celebrated wildly.
"I've had some sleepless nights," he said.
"To feel the ball in my hands and not just whack into my chest, it was amazing."
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