The BBL's sleeping giants, the Perth Scorchers, continued their surge up the table with an exciting 17 run win over the competition leading Sydney Thunder in Perth on Saturday night.
The Scorchers lost their opening three games but have now won four straight, surging from seventh of eight teams before the game up to fifth and in finals position.
"Four in a row, look out, here they come," Brad Haddin said on Fox Cricket.
"They needed a close one, they needed to see if they could hold their nerve under pressure.
"And they have."
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Before the competition Mark Waugh said the Scorchers deserved to be considered favourites and on Saturday said he is picking a Scorchers-Thunder rematch in the final.
Despite the loss the Thunder remain top of the standings, just ahead of city rivals Sydney Sixers who have a game in hand.
"They've got what it takes, after a very slow start," Waugh said of the Scorchers.
"This was a great test against the competition's form team."
Kiwi slugger Colin Munro (50 from 41) and Ashton Turner (31 from 13) were the pillars of Perth's imposing total of 6-185 in front of a large crowd at Optus Stadium.
Thunder quick Brendan Doggett – a forgotten man of the Australian game – took 4-22 from his four overs but the Sydney spinners were unable to repeat their recent success on a typically fast and bouncy Perth pitch.
In reply, England import Sam Billings was threatening to win the game on his own, smoking 83 from 48 before his attempted paddle shot to fine leg off AJ Tye flicked his pad and obliterated the stumps.
"Brilliant over and I think that's won the match for them," Brett Lee said of Tye, who finished with 2-28.
Scorchers speedster Jhye Richardson was even more impressive with the ball, taking 4-24.
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