Master blaster Marcus Stoinis bludgeoned his way back to top form before Luke Wood held his nerve with the ball to steer the Melbourne Stars to an eight-run BBL victory over the Adelaide Strikers.
Stoinis crunched 74 off 35 deliveries, including six sixes, to steer the Stars to 7-186 in Saturday's marquee Adelaide Oval New Year's Eve fixture in front of 40,373 fans before the Strikers replied with 5-178.
Adam Hose (56no) struck his maiden BBL half-century while Rashid Khan (24no) produced a thrilling late cameo.
With 33 required from the last two overs, Rashid helicoptered Stoinis for six, then squirted a four past third man to leave 17 needed off the 20th over.
The Stars' slow over rate meant they had to have an extra fielder inside the circle for the final six balls but Wood was up to the challenge.
Earlier, Stoinis walked out to the middle hopelessly out of form, with just 14 runs at an average of 3.5 for the tournament, but he recaptured his best form in brutal fashion.
Stoinis smashed 24 off one Peter Siddle over before going off for 6, 6, 6, 4 and 6 off successive balls from Golden Arm leader Henry Thornton, who conceded 29 in the 18th over.
Openers Joe Clarke (42) and Tom Rogers (30) set the platform which allowed Stoinis to tee off.
"I was not happy with the way I've started (the tournament), trying to do too much, too soon," Stoinis reflected.
"Sometimes you need to have a good hard look at yourself and go back to the processes that you know work.
"I thought the wicket was really good and was going to get even better under lights and we bowled really well."
The Strikers' reply started poorly when New Zealand superstar Trent Boult sent the dangerous Matt Short (six) packing in the first over.
Chris Lynn threatened to replicate Stoinis's fireworks but his stay was brief, holing out to deep square leg for 21 from Stars skipper Adam Zampa's second delivery.
With the asking rate escalating, Hose and Henry Hunt (49) raised the tempo with a 74-run, third-wicket union.
The game looked in the Stars' keeping when left-arm seamer Liam Hatcher (2-29) dismissed Colin de Grandhomme (13) and Thomas Kelly (0) off successive deliveries before Rashid created a few late murmurs.
"Boult bowled a brilliant 18th over and he (Stoinis) won them the game with the bat, so well played," Hose said.
"It's quite frustrating because when I was out there with Rash and Colin, I really felt in the game.
"I'm pretty gutted I couldn't get the lads over the line."
The only negative for the visitors came when Rogers left the field after injuring his left shoulder while sliding to save a boundary.
