Strikers stand tall after thumping Scorchers

The match in a tweet: Strikers make a statement! Mahela, Head help hosts to 2-174 & rout Scorchers for 138 to take top spot #BBL05

The hero: Travis Head had his moment in the sun on New Year's Eve so we'll give this to Mahela Jayawardene, who opened in the place of the dumped Craig Simmons and was in superb form as he stroked a classy 57 from 37 balls, with two sixes. It was all the more impressive given he had to set the pace; Tim Ludeman made a surprisingly sedate 30 from 37 balls.

The victim: David Willey went for 54 with the ball but looked to make up for it with three sixes in his 31 (17). Only problem was, he kept losing partners. With the asking rate climbing, Willey went for one too many, and with his exit went any hope the Scorchers were holding out.

Watch: Willey goes whack!

The moment: The Strikers needed some impetus in what had been a good-but-not-great innings, and Travis Head and Brad Hodge waited until the 19th over to truly up the ante. Head went first, with what has become a trademark six for the little leftie, before two twos and a single, leaving Hodge to end things. He did it in style – a pair of sixes no less – as the duo took 23 from the over and bumped the target up from moderate to difficult for the Scorchers.

WATCH: Rashid snares another three

The support cast: Head was brilliant again in making 51no from 31 balls, while Hodge (30no off 15) chipped in superbly at the death as the pair put on an unbroken stand of 65 from 32. With the ball, it was a legitimate all-round effort. Adil Rashid was again excellent in claiming 3-23, while Billy Stanlake (2-28) was a standout with the new ball, bowling with pace and aggression. Kane Richardson, Mr Reliable, was again on song with 2-21.   

WATCH: Big-hitting Head powers Strikers

The consolation effort: Jason Behrendorff. Again. The left-arm quick missed out on Australia ODI selection this week and must wonder what more he has to do, particularly after seeing teammate Joel Paris pass him by and earn a call-up to national colours. In four overs, he took an impressive 1-27. Ashton Agar looked the goods with the bat in making 18 from 20 in the middle-order, and took 1-12 from two overs in his first bowl of the tournament.

The stat: Head now has 152 runs at a strike-rate of 180 in his last two digs. Hodge has tucked the 22-year-old under his wing and he looks to be coming of age.

The catch: What about this from Joel Paris. Trust us, moving pictures tell the story better than words on this one.

WATCH: Paris's juggling magic 

The wash-up: The Scorchers' winning streak comes to an end but they're still well placed on six points after five matches. The Strikers meanwhile jump into first place on the ladder – it's where they finished last season and they seem to be getting close to their best cricket.

The next stops: The Scorchers head across the Nullarbor for a clash with the Thunder on Thursday, while the Strikers take on the Heat at the Gabba a day later.

WATCH: Full match highlights

FREE OFFER: Get an Optus Live Pass to stream every ball of BBL matches (and Test matches) for FREE until midnight January 9. Click here or on the image below.