In front of a season-best home crowd of 12,455, the Canes squeezed the life out of the one of the dominant forces in BBL history, restricting them to 8-107 before chasing down the total with six wickets in the shed and 15 balls remaining.

The contest started in the most perfect fashion for the Hurricanes, as James Faulkner celebrated his first BBL match in his home city by trapping William Bosisto first ball.

Things didn’t get any easier for the visitors as Jofra Archer, Clive Rose and Riley Meredith made life very difficult for the Scorchers batsmen, as Rose got the key wicket of Michael Klinger and Meredith sent Ashton Turner on his way, which led to the moment that the cricket world was waiting for.

All the build-up had been about the return of Cameron Bancroft to top-flight cricket following the end of his suspension for his role in “sandpapergate”, with some sections of the UTAS Stadium crowd welcoming him with a chorus of boos.

That return only lasted three balls, with an edge to Matthew Wade off the bowling of Meredith changing the boos to cheers from those wearing purple in the crowd.

That was the second of three victims for the 22-year-old as he finished with 3-15 from his four overs, his best T20 figures, a spell that drew praise on social media from fast bowling greats Mitchell Johnson and Brett Lee.

The ‘Canes were restrictive with the ball, keeping the Scorchers to five fours and two sixes, and desperate in the field, a far cry from the side that had butterfingers in the win over the Thunder on Friday.

D’Arcy Short chipped in with 2-17 from three overs with his left-arm spin, while Meredith put a full stop on his outstanding display by closing out the innings with a 1-4 final over.

Ashton Agar top-scored with 32 from 37, with Hilton Cartwright making 29 from 35.

Two boundaries in his first three balls was a sign of Short’s intentions to make it an early night, and Wade soon joined him with that mentality.

Despite the Scorchers’ strength being their bowling attack, they were no match for the power of Short and Wade as they went about their business.

The duo put on 50 in 7.2 overs, before Wade mistimed a Jhye Richardson delivery, which went straight up and down into the waiting hands of ‘keeper Bancroft. He made 24 from 22, including three boundaries.

His replacement Alex Doolan got a life when he was dropped by Jason Behrendorff in the ninth over, and used it to be there in the end when the winning runs were scored, finishing unbeaten with 41 from 36 balls.

D’Arcy Short was dismissed for 34 from 33 when he hit an Agar full-toss straight to Cartwright in the deep, Ben McDermott came and went for three, as did George Bailey for one.

Agar backed up his work with the bat with 2-19 from four overs with his spin.

“I felt really good towards the back-end of the Shield halfway mark, and I have carried that in and I feel really good at the moment,’’ man-of-the-match Meredith said post-game.

“I probably have a bit more clarity about my role, coming in and executing what the coach and captain want.

“It is pretty special with those old Australian cricketers giving you some praise, so that is pretty special.”

Meredith said the Hurricanes, who have made their best start to a season since BBL01, were coming into every game feeling positive and playing their roles, hence the good results so far.

He described the atmosphere at UTAS Stadium as having a “really good buzz” and said he “didn’t take too much notice” of the reception Bancroft received from the crowd.

It was the Hurricanes’ first win in Launceston as they moved their BBL08 record to 4-0.