Saqib Mahmood stars on Big Bash debut to set Sydney Thunder on victory path

Mahmood took four wickets after fellow Englishman Sam Billings had earlier struck 64 in double-quick time

Brisbane: Sydney Thunder 196-7, Brisbane Heat 143 - Sydney Thunder win by 53 runs

Saqib Mahmood took four wickets on his Big Bash debut as Sydney Thunder comfortably beat Brisbane Heat to record their second win of the season.

The seamer was playing his first game, having missed Thunder's start to the tournament due to England Lions duty.

He made up for lost time immediately, claiming the wickets of Chris Lynn and Ben Duckett in his first over, before picking up Sam Heazlett and Jimmy Peirson in his second as Heat found themselves 15 for 5 after just 17 deliveries of their run-chase.

Earlier, Mahmood's compatriot, Sam Billings, had taken his side to a match-winning score after arriving at the crease in the 11th over. He smashed 64 off just 27 balls, including five fours and five sixes, as Sydney made the most of a fast start provided by Matthew Gilkes and Alex Hales.

Jason Sangha, in for his first appearance of the season, made 39 from No.3, playing second fiddle to Billings, who is the tournament's fourth-highest run-scorer at this early stage. Alex Ross, his teammate, is just a single run behind but he was dismissed for the first time in this year’s competition after coming to the crease in the final over.

^{Sam Billings smashed 64 for Sydney Thunder (Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)}

Mitchell Swepson was the pick of Brisbane's bowlers, with the rest all expensive. Seamers James Bazley and Xavier Bartlett each picked up two wickets, but both conceded more than 11 runs per over.

The game was over as a contest once Mahmood had blown away Brisbane's top order, with Somerset’s Tom Abell replaced due to injury as Brisbane used their X Factor substitute to swap him out for Tom Cooper. Cooper made 32, helping to bring some respectability to an otherwise sorry-looking top seven. When he fell, Brisbane were 59 for 6.

But Bartlett and Mark Steketee added 79 for the eighth wicket, with both men making their highest scores in T20 cricket, before Tanveer Sangha – the leading wicket-taker in this year's tournament – cleaned up the tail.