Maiden Twenty20 half-centuries to young guns Cameron Bancroft and Ashton Agar inspired the Perth Scorchers to a crucial 30-run win over the Sydney Thunder that saw the defending champions move back to the top of the BBL05 ladder.

Pre-game, Scorchers coach Justin Langer spoke to Macquarie Radio’s Summer of Cricket and said he was looking for their young, middle order batsmen to step up after a disappointing batting performance against Adelaide earlier in the week.

He would have been delighted by the performances of Bancroft and Agar, who combined for a new record fourth wicket partnership of 105 runs for the Scorchers.

Bancroft made 72 from 53 balls in just his seventh T20 match while Agar smashed 68 from 34 balls with five boundaries and four sixes.

After slumping to 2-1, Bancroft and Shaun Marsh (28) steadied the innings with a 63-run stand for the third wicket.

Bancroft and Agar’s partnership helped the Scorchers smash 118 off the last 10 overs of their innings that lifted them to a total of 5-175.

West Indian Andre Russell took 2-31 for the Thunder to become the competition’s leading wicket taker with 11.

The Thunder’s innings never got going after they lost openers Aiden Blizzard (7) and Jacques Kallis (7) early.

The highlight of their run chase, which limped to 9-145 after their 20 overs, was Russell’s entertaining cameo of 42 from just 20 balls that included five sixes – including one that travelled 116 metres.

Andrew Tye was the best of the Scorchers’ bowlers, claiming 3-22 off his four overs with good support from Jason Behrendorff (3-28 off four overs) and veteran spinner Brad Hogg (2-25 off four).