Colin Ingram smashed four boundaries and two sixes during his knock of 57

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Adelaide Strikers batsman Colin Ingram hammered an entertaining 57 to lead his side to a comfortable 41-run win over the Melbourne Stars.

Electing to bowl first, the Stars struck on the fifth ball of the match as Strikers opener Matthew Short was caught by Ben Dunk at slip off the bowling of Jackson Bird for one run.

Jake Weatherald, who opened the batting with Short, managed to make 15 before he was caught behind off the bowling of Liam Plunkett.

Ingram and captain Travis Head stabilised the innings with a 74-run partnership before Head was caught by Bird at long-off off the bowling of Plunkett for a 31-ball 43, which included a boundary and three sixes.

Rashid Khan fell shortly after for 13, while Ingram went on to score 57, which came off 41 balls and included four boundaries and two sixes, before he was sent packing by Plunkett.

With Jonathan Wells providing some late fireworks with his unbeaten 32 off just 14 balls, the Strikers finished on 178/5.

Plunkett was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, while Bird chipped in with one.

Chasing 179 to win, the Stars got off to a solid start as Dunk and Evan Gulbis amassed a 50-run partnership before Dunk was dismissed by Ben Laughlin for 20.

Nick Larkin failed to trouble the scorers, while Gulbis scored 37 before he was clean bowled by Wesley Agar.

Once Gulbis was gone, the Stars began losing wickets at regular intervals.

Even though Dwayne Bravo walloped a 23-ball 33, his efforts went in vain as the Stars were skittled out for 137.

Laughlin was the most successful bowler with three wickets, while Agar, Liam O’Connor and Michael Neser took two wickets apiece. As for Rashid, he claimed one.

Ingram was named Man of the Match.