A faulty underground cable was behind the Gabba being plunged into darkness during a Big Bash clash on Thursday, saving the Brisbane Heat from likely defeat at the hands of the Sydney Thunder.

Power at the stadium was out for about an hour but another 80 minutes passed before electricity was restored for the remaining 45 buildings in Woolloongabba and East Brisbane affected by the outage, according to Energex.

The lights on the grandstand at the Stanley Street end of the Gabba were out on Thursday night. Credit:Darren England - AAP

Needing 187 for victory after a historic Shane Watson century, the Heat were 2-10 in the third over of their innings when the power cut struck and the match was eventually abandoned.

Fans were left to amuse themselves, even jokingly turning on their phones' torch lights in an effort to get play back under way.