Big Bash League: Melbourne Stars see off Adelaide Strikers

Brad Hodge: Blasted 88 from just 58 balls for Melbourne Stars

Melbourne Stars moved up to second in the Big Bash League after beating Adelaide Strikers by eight runs to record a fourth straight victory.

Brad Hodge smashed a match-winning 88 from 58 balls as the visitors compiled a total of 175-8 after choosing to bat first at the Adelaide Oval.

The Strikers were behind the required run rate throughout their innings and had a late salvo from Kieron Pollard (65 not out) to thank for making the result look respectable.

Before hitting two sixes and a four in the final over, Pollard had been kept under control by the Stars bowlers, the pick of whom was James Faulkner (2-32).

Hodge had earlier carried the Stars' innings, with his opening partner Rob Quiney finishing as the next highest scorer after hitting two sixes in a rapid knock of 22.

Veteran batsman Hodge provided all of the impetus thereafter, blasting 10 fours and three sixes before finally departing at the end of the 15th over.

Shaun Tait (2-36) took two wickets in the closing stages of the innings to break up the late hitting, but the damage had already been done and the target of 176 looked a challenging one for the hosts.

The Strikers made a promising start but their scoring slowed after Faulkner dismissed both Tim Ludeman (30) and Callum Ferguson (35) to leave them on 70-3 in the ninth over.

Pollard took a while to get going and by the time he really hit his stride in the last two overs, it was too late to pull things back for Adelaide, who finished on 167-4 and slip down one place to third in the table following the defeat.