Shane Watson hit the first century of this year's Big Bash League but it proved to be in vain as Sydney Thunder were thwarted by a major power failure in Brisbane.

A serious outage in the area around the Gabba meant that play had to be abandoned early into the Brisbane Heat's reply to Thunder's Watson-inspired 186 for four.

Heat were 10 for two after three overs when the lights went out and, even though good-humoured fans shone torch lights from their phones, play could not be restarted.

Had two more overs been bowled a result could have been declared but the two sides had to settle for a point each.

Veteran Watson, the Thunder captain, smashed 100 from 62 balls with eight fours and six sixes.

England's Chris Jordan then removed the dangerous Brendon McCullum for a duck in the first over as Thunder struck early in the Heat response.

Jordan also caught Chris Lynn off the bowling of Gurinder Sandhu but Thunder were denied when the main floodlights went out.