An unbeaten 92 from Tim Ludeman helped guide the Adelaide Strikers to a comfortable eight-wicket victory over the Melbourne Stars in the opening game of the Big Bash League.
The Stars took to bat first and aside from Kevin Pietersen's knock of 66 and Luke Wright's 45 off 37 balls, the team struggled at the crease as they reached 148-7 after 20 overs.
The duo were the only two players to reach double figures, and Clive Rose failed to get one run on the board after getting run out by Kane Richardson.
In reply, the Strikers' opening batsmen Craig Simmons and Ludeman stormed to a combined 83 runs before the former was sent packing having hit 30 of 15 balls.
Travis Head (22) and Brad Hodge (1 not out) contributed, but it was Ludeman who heavily impressed with the bat by hitting 92, including nine boundaries and five sixes, off 44 balls.
Strikers won with 45 balls remaining.