The last-placed Heat looked behind the eight ball when they were sent in and knocked over for 154, before holding the Strikers to 9-137 off their 20 overs.
Medium pacer James Bazley (3-30) and spinners Matthew Kuhnemann (2-26) and Mitch Swepson (1-21) expertly exploited a slow, stopping wicket, which only Matt Short (39) looked like mastering.
"We thought we were definitely under-par but after our bowling innings it was obviously enough," Swepson said.
"Our bowlers did a good job in keeping them under that.
"Great confidence for our bowlers who have had it pretty tough of late."
The Strikers never recovered after slumping to 3-42 in the eighth over - their big three of Chris Lynn (22), Alex Carey (two) and Travis Head (one) all back in the sheds.
The eagerly awaited return of Adelaide's star Test duo Head and Carey proved an anticlimax.
Head was castled by Kuhnemann in the opening over, an unsettling sign ahead of next month's Test tour of India, before Carey fell in soft fashion, lofting Swepson to Sam Hain for some catching practice.
Brisbane's Adelaide-born firebrand Spencer Johnson packed too much heat for Lynn, hurtling a maiden over past him during which the speed gun exceeded 150km/h.
Lynn, who heads off to the United Arab Emirates to play in the ILT20, finished his debut campaign in Strikers colours with 416 runs at 41.6 but he wasn't able to capitalise on a promising start in his farewell dig, slicing Kuhnemann to Johnson at point.
Short moved past Lynn for Golden Bat honours before nicking Bazley to Jimmy Peirson.
A comical mix-up which resulted in Colin de Grandhomme (21) being run out with both he and Cameron Boyce at one end epitomised the dire plight for the Strikers, whose batting woes from their heavy loss to the Melbourne Stars at the MCG on Thursday continued.
"It was still a nice wicket, we just batted poorly," Lynn said.
"We can't use the wicket as an excuse.
"I couldn't hit the ball to get going."
Earlier, Harry Conway justified his selection ahead of fellow quick Henry Thornton by taking a career-best 3-36, including the key scalps of Marnus Labuschagne (46) and Usman Khawaja (two).
The Heat were well placed at 2-86 at the 10-over mark before being restricted to 8-68 across the innings' back half.
Conway was well supported with the ball by Peter Siddle (2-24), Wes Agar (2-27) and Boyce (2-29).
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