KFC BBL|05

The fireworks were certainly on show come BBL|05, most memorably through the New Year's Eve heroics of a young Travis Head for the Adelaide Strikers.

Years before his emergence as one of Australia's most explosive Test cricketers, Head put his name on the Big Bash map after blasting an emphatic maiden century off just 53 balls, slamming home a match-winning six to bring up his unforgettable century in front of a heaving Adelaide Oval.

His leading role on New Year's Eve arguably overshadowed the century recorded by Luke Wright in front of a record Melbourne Derby crowd at the MCG; the 80,883 in the house still standing as the highest ever recorded attendance for a domestic cricket match.

And whether or not it surpassed the gobsmacking 12-ball half-century set by West Indies superstar Chris Gayle which shook the very foundations of Etihad Stadium - which included seven sixes and equalled the record for the fastest 50 in a T20 match - could be debated for days on end.

However, the biggest success story of the season ultimately belonged to the Sydney Thunder.

Having won just five games total in the four campaigns prior, the once-struggling side -- buoyed by the recruitment of 'Mr Cricket' Michael Hussey a few seasons earlier -- pulled off a miraculous upset over the Scorchers in the semi-final, who were gunning for a hat-trick of BBL titles to solidify their status as the competition's premier outfit.

With thanks to a defining 70 off 40 balls from Usman Khawaja, the Thunder triumphed by three wickets in front of the highly fancied Stars at the MCG, bringing some long-awaited success to the team in lime green.