Thunder captain Mike Hussey celebrates taking a catch to dismiss Dan Harris of the Renegades. Source: Getty Images
THREE Prime Ministers and three Christmases later, the streak is over.
Sydney Thunder ended 753 days - and 19 matches - of Big Bash League futility with a shock win that also put in grave peril the Melbourne Renegades' finals chances.
Last year's minor premiers must now win both remaining matches - home to the Sixers and away to the Strikers - to have any chance of making the finals.
And the absolute hiding the hosts' run rate took as the Thunder ran down their miserable all out 104 total within 11.3 overs didn't help that task.
Usman Khawaja (46 not out off 34 balls) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (46 off 29) made light work of the chase with an opening stand of 89 in 9.3 overs.
Not only did their stylish strokeplay bely the Thunder's recent batting woes, it defined the intent that was obvious throughout the match.
It was fitting that skipper Mike Hussey (9 not out) - for much of the season the lone hand for the Thunder - hit the winning run in the nine-wicket mauling.
Usman Khawaja hits out for the Thunder at Etihad Stadium. Source: Getty Images
The Thunder had not won since the second match of the inaugural BBL on December 23, 2011 - and precious few gave them a chance with Australian one-day stars Aaron Finch and James Pattinson released to play for the Renegades.
Air was already thin when play started with the scoreboard showing 47C, but it thinned further when Gurinder Sandhu rattled hometown hero Finch's furniture second ball and the crowd collectively gasped.
The competition's leading run-scorer, so dominant at Etihad Stadium and fresh off an ODI century for Australia on Sunday night, trudged off with a rare duck to leave the 10,896 crowd strangely subdued.
And things didn't really improve.
They were hushed further two overs later when Sandhu nabbed a second scalp when Chris Tremain took a top catch at full stretch at mid-on to remove Alex Doolan for eight.
It wasn't until the third ball of the fourth over that regular Renegades saviour Ben Rohrer cut Andrew Pye to the point fence that the home team had its first boundary at a venue that normally requires nightly panel beating to the hoardings.
Thunder Tillakaratne Dilshan smashes a six against the Renegades. Source: Getty Images
But after Rohrer and opener Dan Harris - playing his first game for the year after breaking a hand in mid-December - shared a 50-run stand and looked to be in control, the flow of wickets began unabated.
Harris (30) was given out to a Tremain slower ball that climbed steeply and appeared to balloon off his elbow to cover.
But he was the only real stumbling block as Sandhu (3-21), Ajantha Mendis (2-21) and Andrew Tye (1-20) prevented any momentum with regular wickets.
And Hussey kept up the pressure with some aggressive field placements that were finally reinforced by the green team's dedication to the task.
And the hugs all round on the bench after the winning run showed exactly the relief that they'll be no longer burdened by talk of the streak.
Relive all the action from the Renegades-Thunder Big Bash League clash in our match blog below.
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