Stokes hammered eight boundaries and five sixes during his knock of 77
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Melbourne Renegades all-rounder Ben Stokes walloped 77 runs in almost no time at all to help his side take down the Hobart Hurricanes by 37 runs at the Bellerive Oval.
Stokes was well supported by left-arm pace bowler Nicholas Winter, who took three wickets.
Hurricanes captain George Bailey would have been pleased with his decision to bowl first after Renegades opener Matthew Wade and skipper Aaron Finch were dismissed in quick succession.
Stokes and Callum Ferguson stabilised the innings with an 86-run partnership, during which Stokes brought up his half-century, before he was caught by Bailey at extra cover off the bowling of Cameron Boyce.
Stokes’ superb knock of 77 came off 37 balls and included eight boundaries and five sixes.
Ferguson went on to score 31 runs before he was caught by Tim Bresnan at wide long-on off the bowling of Jake Reed.
Despite a lower order collapse, the Renegades still managed to finish on 163/7 off their 20 overs.
Ben Hilfenhaus was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Boyce snapped up two and Reed and Xavier Doherty chipped in with one wicket apiece.
Chasing 164 to win, the Hurricanes got off to a terrible start as opening batsman Tim Paine was clean bowled by Winter for three runs.
Ben Dunk managed to make 17 runs before he was cleaned up by Peter Siddle.
Alex Hales failed to have an impact with the bat as he was clean bowled by Nathan Rimmington for seven runs.
Jonathan Wells fared no better as he was given out lbw of the bowling of Siddle for eight runs.
Bresnan mustered 13 runs before he was cleaned up by Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan.
Bailey scored 20 runs before he was caught by Cooper at long-off off the bowling of Fawad Ahmed.
Ahmed struck again just two balls later when he clean bowled Travis Birt for 14 runs.
Boyce made 15 runs before he was caught by Siddle at long-on off the bowling of Al Hasan.
Hilfenhaus accumulated 11 runs before he was cleaned up by Winter.
The Hurricanes were bowled out for 126 when he was caught by Al Hasan at long-on off the bowling of Winter.
Winter was the most successful bowler with three wickets, while Al Hasan and Ahmed took two wickets each and Rimmington claimed one.
Winter finished with figures of 3-19 off 3.2 overs
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Stokes was named Man of the Match for his magnificent knock.