Big Bash League: Perth Scorchers beat Brisbane Heat

In reply to the Heat's 9-171 on Saturday night, the Scorchers reached the winning target with 21 balls to spare thanks to big hitting from Bancroft (76 off 48 balls) and Hardie (57 off 33 balls).

Bancroft played his third BBL game after being forced out for much of the season by Faf du Plessis and Adam Lyth.

With du Plessis now promoted to the South African T20 league and Lyth dropped from the squad after a horror season, Bancroft is a crucial player for the Scorchers as they look to win the title again.

Bancroft scored seven fours and two sixes and teamed up with Hardie for a 111-run stand that secured the win.

Hardie was brutal with five fours and three sixes before he was out in the 12th over.

The result lifted the Scorchers (6-2) back to the top spot, while the Heat are seventh after winning just two of their first eight games.

The Heat got off to a dream start in the game thanks to their outgoing import, Colin Munro.

Munro, who moves to the new UAE T20 League next week, hit three fours and three sixes en route to a 45-run stand after 26 balls.

Along with Josh Brown (34 off 21 balls), the New Zealand batsman took the Heat to 0-81 by the middle of the eighth over.

However, the Scorchers' attack hit back fiercely, with AJ Tye (3-37), Matt Kelly (2-28) and Lance Morris (2-4) causing a collapse to 9-90.

The Heat scored just 25 in the last four overs and lost three wickets in the final over as their search for quick runs in the closing stages proved fruitless.

Morris was bowled for 16 in his first over, but the Speed Demon returned with scalps from Munro and Jimmy Peirson (23 off 19 balls).

Morris's return from the Test squad helped compensate for the absence of Jhye Richardson, who will be out for two to three weeks with a hamstring injury.

The Scorchers have been hit hard by injuries and absences this season, missing players such as Mitch Marsh, Cam Green, Laurie Evans, Tymal Mills and Phil Salt throughout the tournament.

Player of the Match: Cameron Bancroft was named Man of the Match (76 off 48 balls).

Perth Scorchers squad

Playing - Cameron Bancroft, Stephen Eskinazi, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis (wk), Ashton Turner (c), Cooper Connolly, Nick Hobson, Jason Behrendorff, Lance Morris, Matthew Kelly, Andrew Tye

Bench - Chris Sabburg, David Payne, Peter Hatzoglou, Adam Lyth

Brisbane Heat squad

They played - Josh Brown, Colin Munro, Nathan McSweeney, Sam Billings, Max Bryant, Jimmy Peirson (c & wk), Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitchell Swepson, Ross Whiteley, Michael Neser, Mark Steketee

Bench - James Bazley, Spencer Johnson, Xavier Bartlett