The 19-year-old belted an unbeaten 63 off just 36 balls to help the Sydney Thunder pile on 181 runs at Manuka Oval.

It was a shame the rain arrived in the nation's capital and the target of the Melbourne Stars, who were without injured Nowra product Nic Maddinson, was later reduced to 90 off eight overs.

At least Sangha gave the 8788 Canberrans bang for their buck before the bulk of them escaped the wet and missed the 15-run victory.

Sangha, who made a name for himself when he tonked a century in a tour game against England 12 months ago, quickly erased any doubts about how he would adjust to the shortest form of the game.

The baby-faced right-hander arrived at the crease alongside one of his childhood idols, England Test skipper Joe Root, and with the Stars' own teen debutant, Nepalese leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane, causing a bit of damage.

But Sangha worked his way into the innings and started dismantling the Stars – and later Lamichhane's figures (2-36).

Sangha smashed four boundaries and as many sixes, including two off Marcus Stoinis' only over.

"Seeing the crowd tonight reminds me of when I was a young kid in my Thunder clothes,'' Sangha said.

"The situation when I came in, me and Joe tried to be calm, we understood one of us had to go deep into the innings. Luckily it came off tonight.

"Joe has been one of my idols since I've grown up, and to bat with him in front of this crowd is a dream come true.''

Big things were tipped for Sangha on the eve of the Big Bash and he showed glimpses of what could be on the cards just last Sunday with an impressive 60 against cross-town rivals the Sydney Sixers in a scrimmage game. He tonked a six that landed in one of the top tiers at Spotless Stadium, where he will try to take down the Sixers again on Monday.

Daniel Sams, who was the star for the Sixers in last year's opening derby, chimed in beautifully for the Thunder with 34 off 21 balls, despite being dropped three times, including twice by Blues buddy Nick Larkin.

Sams then produced figures of 3-5 to deny Sangha man-of-the-match honours.

The Thunder's international big guns Shane Watson (22 off 19), Jos Buttler (20 off 16) and Root (18 off 17) all got starts, but would have enjoyed the sight of Sangha sizzle.

He became the youngest player to post a half-century in the Big Bash.

Stars tweaker Adam Zampa deserved his 2-23, but excluding Lamichhane's first couple of overs, there was not much else to like.

A few Sydney grade cricketers may have remembered Lamichhane as the kid Michael Clarke brought to Australia for a few games. Clarke happily tweeted about Lamichhane on Friday night after his first-over breakthrough.

The Stars faced four balls before play stopped for half an hour and the Duckworth-Lewis method was introduced.

Ben Dunk made just two and departed before the end of the two-over power play.

Sams then struck with his first ball, removing Travis Dean leg before wicket.

The night was as good as done when they lost 5-20 in the space of three overs.

There was some good news for the Stars earlier in the night when their star recruit and unwanted Sixers star batsman Nic Maddinson revealed he was eyeing a return to the Big Bash in the middle of next month.

Maddinson underwent surgery on his broken wrist last week, but said he could resume batting next week.