Defending champions the Sydney Thunder have surged to the top of the WBBL T20 ladder, with both Sydney teams making a winning start to the new year.
The Thunder squeezed out Brisbane Heat by three runs on Monday in a thriller at Blacktown.
At Adelaide Oval, the Sydney Sixers pushed their way into the top four with a 19-run win over the Strikers.
In western Sydney, the Thunder scored 8-132 after being asked to bat and then restricted the Heat to 9-129.
Brisbane looked well placed at 0-62 in the 11th over before suffering a dramatic collapse.
Openers Beth Mooney and Kirby Short scored 34 and 30 respectively, but their middle order failed to deliver as they lost 7-34 in little more than five overs.
The Heat lost two wickets in the 13th over and three in as many balls in the 16th, bowled by Sam Bates, where a run-out was followed by successive lbw decisions.
"Credit to Beth Mooney, she batted really well at the top of the order to get the Heat in the game," player of the match Bates told AAP.
"But we went back to our bowling plans and credit to all the bowlers."
Earlier, the Thunder suffered a collapse of their own, as they slumped from 1-66 after Rachael Haynes scored 40 off 29 balls.
The two teams will play at the same venue on Tuesday, with seventh-placed Heat only three points behind the Thunder.
In Adelaide, the Sixers scored 3-161, with all five batters getting a start.
Alyssa Healy (51) and Ellyse Perry (34) put on 83 for the first wicket in 11.5 overs.
They were backed up by in-form Ashleigh Gardner, who whacked 26 off just 14 balls, and Sara McGlashan and Dane van Niekerk, who finished unbeaten on 18 and 25 respectively.
The Strikers couldn't keep up with the required run rate despite innings of 57 from England's Tammy Beaumont and 40 not out from Bridget Patterson and finished at 5-142.
The win moves the Sixers above the Strikers on percentage with the teams to clash again on Tuesday at Adelaide Oval.
The two teams are level with the Stars and Scorchers, on eight points, one behind the Thunder.
