Ferguson's form hits new heights

Two games ago Callum Ferguson thought he had found form with a half-century against the Renegades, but on Thursday night his form went to a whole new level.

The 34-year-old hit triple figures off just 48 deliveries, powering eight maximums on his way to an unbeaten 113 in the Thunder's impressive six-wicket win over the Perth Scorchers at Optus Stadium.

Strolling to the crease with his side at 1-18 in the fourth over and in desperate need of some quick hitting, Ferguson combined with debutant Matthew Gilkes for a 120-run second wicket partnership that steered the game away from the Scorchers.

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing for the South Australian, with a close call proving to be the turning point in his blistering knock.

"I had one land in the gap off Usman Qadir early on in my innings, probably on 30 or 40, and sometimes you just need that little bit of luck," Ferguson said.

"It fell in the gap which was good and then I was able to just keep punching it and make sure we kept ahead of the rate."

The huge second-wicket stand was particularly important for gloveman Gilkes, who suffered a horror start to his BBL career, dropping Shaun Marsh off the first ball the left-hander faced.

In his first Scorchers outing this season, Marsh made the debutant pay, as he continued his outstanding white-ball form and went on to post 96* off just 55 balls.

"I think it shows a lot of character," Ferguson said. "'Gilksy' would’ve been nervous coming into his first game, it’s a big stadium – an impressive stadium as well – but he certainly would’ve been feeling a little bit of pressure," Ferguson said.

"For him to show the character he did and to come out and bat the way he did was really pleasing for us because we know how hard he’s worked in the lead up to this."

If Ferguson’s first outing on the Optus Stadium deck wasn’t impressive enough, punishing a star-studded Scorchers bowling line up – which boasts the likes of Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Coulter-Nile and AJ Tye – made it even sweeter.

"Over here against probably one of the better attacks in the competition, if not in domestic world cricket, it’s really pleasing," he said.

"They defend so well over here and certainly it feels like an achievement."

Ferguson’s century is only the second of BBL08 – and the second to the Sydney Thunder - after his captain Shane Watson notched the first triple-figure score against the Heat in their abandoned clash at the Gabba.