Rashid Khan finished with figures of 3-19 off his four overs

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Rashid Khan took three wickets and Alex Carey smashed a 46-ball 70 as the Adelaide Strikers cruised past the Brisbane Heat by five wickets in the opening game of the 2018/19 Big Bash League (BBL) season.

Being put in to bat first, the Heat were dealt a big blow on the second ball of the match as opener Brendon McCullum was caught behind off the bowling of Billy Stanlake for four runs.

Captain Chris Lynn and debutant Max Bryant made up for the loss of McCullum with a 46-run partnership before Lynn was dismissed by Peter Siddle for a 20-ball 33.

Chris Lynn is done for the night, but we're pretty pumped for plenty more of these this season 😍#BBL08 | @Weet_Bix pic.twitter.com/xCJ1J8zLUu

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 19, 2018

Joe Burns scored 20 before he became Stanlake’s second victim, while Bryant went on to make 22 before he was caught by Rashid off the bowling of Matthew Short.

The Heat began to lose wickets at regular intervals once Bryant was gone, courtesy of Rashid, as they went from 81/4 to being reduced to 101/9.

However, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Jimmy Peirson gave their side a boost towards the end of the innings as they forged a 45-run partnership before Mujeeb was caught by Jake Lehmann at long-on off the bowling of Michael Neser for 27.

Peirson was left unbeaten on 24 as the Heat were bowled out for 146.

Rashid was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Stanlake and Short snapped up two wickets apiece. As for Neser, Siddle and Ben Laughlin, they chipped in with one wicket each.

Chasing 147 to win, the Strikers got off to a great start as Carey and Jake Weatherald amassed a 56-run partnership before Weatherald was caught by James Pattinson at short fine leg off the bowling of Burns for 17.

Alex Carey goes bang! And with a stumping in the first innings, he might be a good Big Bash Fantasy buy! #BBL08 | @SkyscannerAus pic.twitter.com/8kkOl3iL6g

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 19, 2018

Strikers skipper Colin Ingram departed shortly after, while Short scored 13 before he was caught by McCullum at long-on off the bowling of Pattinson.

Carey ended up making a 46-ball 70, which included five boundaries and four sixes, before he was clean bowled by Mitchell Swepson.

With Jonathan Wells and Lehmann making an unbeaten 24 and 16 respectively, the Striker proceeded to reach their target with five balls to spare.

Pattinson was the most successful bowler with two wickets, while Burns, Swepson and Ben Cutting claimed one wicket each.

Rashid was named Man of the Match.