David Warner blasted an unbeaten 102 to guide Sydney Thunder to victory over the Melbourne Stars in the new Big Bash League.
Warner ensured the 42-year-old comeback king Shane Warne, who was playing his first game at the MCG since retiring from elite cricket in January, was relegated to a supporting act.
The legendary leg-spinner took 0-19 from his two overs.
Chasing 154 to win, the Thunder reached their target with six wickets and one over in hand.
James Faulkner took 2-20 for the Stars.
David Hussey top-scored with 52 off 27 balls in the Stars' innings of 7-153 while Doug Bollinger and Scott Coyte took two wickets each.
In reply, the Thunder lost West Indies import Chris Gayle for four, but Warner smashed six fours and six sixes in his 51-ball display of power hitting despite being in doubt for the game with a back injury.
Warner blasted Warne for a six over long-on in his first over and another over the sightscreen in the master legspinner's second over, prompting skipper Cameron White to give the local hero a rest.
Test opener Warner reached his century in the 19th over and leapt in the air with delight.
Warne's British fiancee Liz Hurley tossed the coin with the captains before the match as part of the BBL's push to broaden its fan base.
The game drew a crowd of 23,496 after Stars officials had been hoping to eclipse the Australian Twenty20 domestic record of 43,125 in January 2010 when Victoria hosted Tasmania.
The Stars play Brisbane Heat at the Gabba on December 20 while the Thunder host Adelaide Strikers at ANZ Stadium three days later.
Warner completed a remarkable week after scoring an unbeaten century in the second Test against New Zealand in Hobart on Monday in his debut series.
The stocky left-hander said he was determined to treat Warne as just another bowler.
“If he's going to toss it up in my area, I'm going to try to take him down,” Warner said.
“Twenty20 cricket for a spin bowler, it's not ideal. I'm just happy that we won.”
Warner will play for the Chairman's XI in a three-day tour game against India in Canberra starting on Monday ahead of the Boxing Day Test.
Melbourne captain Cameron White said Warner was clearly one of the superstars of T20 cricket worldwide.
White said he felt Warne was still the best legspinner in the world.
“With six or seven left-handers in their line-up, it was always going to be difficult,” White said.
“He bowled well actually. He didn't bowl a bad ball.
“He (Warner) just played well. All credit to David.
“He played fantastic tonight. He took the game away from us.”
