Brisbane Heat batsman Max Bryant missed a century but his dominant effort for the Gold Coast helped defeat an enthusiastic University of Queensland in the first game under lights at the newly redveloped Allan Border Field.
At Ian Healy Oval, New Zealand recruit Zak Foulkes single-handedly lifted Wynnum-Manly to their first win of the competition, with his stand-out 102 not out from 52 balls inspiring the Sea Eagles to victory in dramatic fashion over Sandgate-Redcliffe.
Bryant's knock of 92 from 62 balls featured 10 fours and four sixes as he notched up his third half century of the competition and highest score to date in the three week competition that will be decided this Sunday in the Final at Allan Border Field.
Bryant and Melbourne Stars player Beau Webster (34 from 23) helped the Dolphins to 7-168, but UQ was quickly into stride in the run chase as off-season transfer Bryce Street produced his best knock for his new club.
The Queensland Bulls opener demonstrated his T20 develpoment with 81 from 61 balls as University stayed on track for the chase despite wickets falling.
Gold Coast captain Matthew Kuhnemann was instrumental in controlling the chase, finishing with 2-19 from four overs including bowling in the opening power play. Crucially, both his wickets came in the 19th over, including the key scalp of the set batsman in Street and the dangerous lower order hitter Matt Willans.
University finished three runs short at 6-165.
At Ian Healy Oval, Sandgate-Redcliffe had eyes on their first win after producing a strong 8-173, with solid contributions from Rory Livingstone (44), Matthew Schubert (36) and quick runs from Caden Sweeney (20) and PNG international Norman Vanua (19 off 8 balls).
Wynnum were in dire straits at 6-97 before Foulkes produced a fightback for the ages, with the Canterbury (NZ) recruit opening his shoulders to crash seven sixes and eight fours.
The Gators were poised to snatch back the win, when PNG international Chad Soper took a hat-trick in the 18th over to leave Wynnum seemingly needing a miracle.
Foulkes then took 15 off the second last over from Chathura Kaluthanthri and with 17 needed off the final over, a no-ball, five wides and two boundaries narrowed the gap again Foulkes hit a four off the second last ball from Vanua to bring up his ton and level the scores, before he and number 11 batsman Sam Hatherall scampered through for the winning run off the last ball.