Ben Stokes marked his Big Bash League debut with a match-winning 77 from 37 balls as Melbourne Renegades overcame a Hobart Hurricanes side featuring Alex Hales and Tim Bresnan by 37 runs.
Stokes, signed last week as a replacement for Jesse Ryder, came to the crease in the Hobart game’s second over and flayed five sixes plus eight fours.
When the England and Durham all-rounder holed out off Cameron Boyce, the Renegades were well placed on 106 for three in the 12th over.
They posted 163 for seven as Bresnan went wicketless in four overs on his Big Bash bow.
Hales’ disappointing campaign continued as he cheaply played on to Nathan Rimmington early in the reply.
Bresnan reached double-figures but departed in the same fashion to Shakib Al Hasan as the Hurricanes were dismissed in the 20th over.
The Renegades’ win lifted them level on four points with Hobart, both teams now having a fight on their hands to make the semi-finals.