Harry Conway (2-33) had Ben Cutting caught on the boundary the next ball to seal the victory before narrowly missing a hat-trick when Jon Wells spilled a tough outfield chance.
Jason Sangha (61) and Ross (56) turned the tide the Thunder’s way with an enterprising 90-run stand after captain Usman Khawaja was controversially sent packing in the seventh over.
Khawaja stood hisxjmtzyw ground after slicing Matt Short to short third man where Fawad Ahmed lunged forward and claimed a catch.
Umpire Donovan Koch’s soft signal was out, which television umpire Ben Treloar agreed with, despite replays appearing to show the ball brushing the turf as it went into Fawad’s right hand.
“No, I didn’t (think it was out),” Khawaja told the Seven Network.
“I thought at the end of the day the soft signal cost me.
“It looked like a blade of glass 100 per cent touched the ball.
“I don’t agree with it, but I have to accept it.”
Strikers captain Peter Siddle claimed two wickets in the 17th over, including Sangha, as the Thunder took the power surge, before Conway held his nerve at the death.
“When they were in that position (Thunder 2-146 in the 17th), it was going to be hard work,” Siddle said.
“We were going to have to execute and get the job done with the ball.
