Ludeman Spoils Pietersen's Big Bash Debut

Tim Ludeman scored the quickest fifty in the Big Bash as the tournament got underway with Adelaide Strikers beating Melbourne Stars by eight wickets.

Ludeman (92no) brought up his fifty from just 18 balls in style, with a massive six over mid-wicket off James Faulkner in the fifth over – one of five sixes in his innings as he stole the limelight from Kevin Pietersen, who made a fifty of his own in Melbourne's score of 148-7 from their 20 overs.

Ludeman regularly used his feet in coming down to the Melbourne pace attack and carted them all around the ground, hitting boundaries both sides square of the wicket.

It was Adelaide’s first ever win over Melbourne in the four years of the competition, their first win at home in four and Melbourne’s first defeat in the group stage for two years – having won eight of eight last year.

Pietersen made an explosive start to his Big Bash League career striking 66 off 46 balls, hitting successive leg-side sixes off Kieron Pollard and wristily flicking an incredible six off Ben Laughlin later in his innings.

Luke Wright supported him well with 45 off 37 balls – picking up from where he left off last year when he hit 288 runs in the Big Bash – as the former England batsmen dominated proceedings early on in the innings.

But when he was caught in the deep off Johan Botha in the 12th over, the Melbourne innings stuttered, and no other batsman passing double figures.

Adelaide got off to a flier in their reply – Ludeman and his opening partner, Craig Simmons (30) – who hit the fastest Big Bash hundred last year – scoring 71 from the first five overs.

John Hastings got Simmons in the next over and also picked up Travis Head (22) late on, but Adelaide coasted through to the win with 7.3 overs still remaining.