Scorchers opener Finn Allen cracked 68 off 31 balls and Cooper Connolly chipped in with an unbeaten 43 as the hosts made 4-177 in front of 46,471 fans at Optus Stadium on Friday night.
In reply, David Warner (49 off 33 balls) set the foundations for the Thunder, but their victory hopes looked bleak needing 21 runs off the last seven balls.
A huge six from concussion substitute Hugh Weibgen (9no off six balls) gave them hope, and Sherfane Rutherford (39no off 19 balls) reduced the equation to three runs needed off the final delivery.
Rutherford just got his bat on AJ Tye's final delivery to send the ball to the fine leg boundary and secure a famous victory.
THUNDER WIN OFF THE FINAL BALL!— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) That is an unbelievable victory for the @ThunderBBL at Perth Stadium. #BBL14 pic.twitter.com/fZTCIo4tVXJanuary 3, 2025
Thunder players streamed onto the field following the miraculous victory, but the result came secondary to the horrific on-field collision between Sams and Bancroft.
Both players were running at full pace from opposite directions in a bid to catch Connolly's skied shot when they collided while lunging for the ball.
Sams, who was running in from the boundary, appeared to be knocked out cold in the horrific clash of heads, with the 32-year-old laying prone on his back.
Bancroft, who was running with the flight of the ball, did not lose consciousness but was clearly hurt.
Sams was taken off by medi-cab after the collision. (Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS)
Thunder players rushed in as soon as the incident occurred, with the two Scorchers batters stopping their running between the wickets out of respect for the injuries.
After some five minutes of treatment, a groggy Bancroft was able to walk off the field with the help of a trainer, blood streaming from his nose as he left the field.
Sams was treated by his team's medical staff as well as an ambulance crew before being taken off on a medi-cab.
The Thunder later confirmed that both players had been concussed and were taken to hospital for further assessment, with concerns about possible fractures.
They were at least conscious and talking.
Ollie Davies and 20-year-old debutant Weibgen were approved as the duo's concussion replacements by the match referee.
Bancroft (right) and Sams were floored by the collision. (Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS)
The Scorchers were 4-126 after 15.2 overs when play was halted while Bancroft and Sams were attended to.
Allen was on 31 when Thunder wicketkeeper Sam Billings dropped a tough skied catch running with the flight of the ball.
The Kiwi opener went on to crack six fours and five sixes during his dazzling knock, setting the Scorchers the perfect platform to launch from.
Allen helped take 22 runs off Rutherford's one and only over.
But a superb effort from Thunder spinner Chris Green (3-20 off four overs) halted Perth's momentum as the home side lost 3-8 in a mid-innings slump.
Bancroft leaves the field injured and bloodied. (Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS)
Warner rode his luck during his swashbuckling innings.
The veteran thought he was out on 39 when spinner Matthew Spoors reviewed an LBW decision the umpire had turned down.
Warner, looking at the replay on the big screen, started walking off the field.
But ball-tracking technology eventually showed the ball was only just clipping the bails, with the umpire's call meaning Warner was safe, given the original decision was not out.
At 3-113, the Thunder were a real chance to pull off victory.
Warner's dismissal in the 14th over when he was caught on the boundary was a huge blow, but some big hits from Rutherford were enough to get the Thunder over the line.
