Tom Curran and Sam Harper power Stars past Strikers

Opening bat Sam Harper powered Melbourne Stars to a six-wicket win against Adelaide Strikers to extend their perfect start to the BBL season.

With captain Matt Short top-scoring with 56 from 42 balls, the Strikers posted 155 for 8 as Stars' quicks Haris Rauf (3 for 28) and Tom Curran (3 for 35) claimed three wickets each. Stars' Harper struck 55 from 36 balls as they chased down the target at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday night with 11 balls to spare, reaching 161 for 4 to bank a second consecutive win to open their campaign.

Stars' usual opener Tom Rogers couldn't bat after injuring a shoulder in the field. But Harper and Joe Clarke (23 from 19 deliveries) set an ominous tone, smacking 52 runs from the initial 24 balls.

Stars' openers reached 67 before the partnership was broken when legspinner Lloyd Pope (1 for 22) bowled Clarke with a wrong'un from the top shelf on the last ball of the seventh over.

Harper posted his half-century from 35 balls but was dismissed next ball when skying to mid-on from the bowling of Jamie Overton (1 for 39) in the tenth over.

The visitors were at a comfortable 90 for 2 at the halfway stage, but lost Glenn Maxwell (2 from four balls) cheaply. Campbell Kellaway (28 from 22 deliveries) and Marcus Stoinis (32* from 22), who hit a six to win the game, ensured there were no following hiccups.

Earlier, Strikers' innings was rocked by a double blow in the second over when Stars paceman Curran snared two wickets in three balls. Curran bowled veteran Chris Lynn (4 off four balls) with an offcutter through the gate, and then produced a superb legcutter which clipped the off stump of Jason Sangha, who failed to score.

Short and Liam Scott steadied, registering a 50-run stand from 34 balls, and taking the total to 62 in the eighth over. Stars allrounder Stoinis (1 for 23) ended the union when Scott (25 from 19) was trapped lbw, and soon after, Short was given a reprieve on 40 when a hesitant Tom Whitney turfed a simple skied chance at cover from Curran's bowling.

At their midpoint, Strikers were 83 for 3, and Short soon after posted his half-century from 38 balls.But just when the skipper was set to wind up, he smacked a Curran delivery to extra cover, where Stoinis took a sharp catch with both arms outstretched above his head.

Short's departure left Strikers at 110 for 4 in the 14th over, and the home side couldn't gain any late traction, with Rauf taking two wickets in consecutive balls in the 19th over.