In champion spinner Rashid Khan's last appearance for the Strikers in the 2020-21 BBL season, Adelaide restricted the Stars to 7/149.
And despite a mid-innings wobble, Adelaide sealed victory with an over to spare when Tom O'Connell put down a tough outfield catch at cover, allowing Ryan Gibson to scurry through for the winning runs.
Jon Wells (36) and Gibson (22 not out) finished with a flurry after opener Phil Salt (31) provided the early fireworks.
Appearing well set, Salt skied captain Glenn Maxwell (1/19) to Liam Hatcher in the deep before Alex Carey (21) and Jake Weatherald (19) both succumbed attempting to reverse-sweep leg-spinner Adam Zampa (2/20).
The Strikers conceded the Bash Boost point while slumping to 4/97 before recovering during the power surge.
Earlier, Nic Maddinson (48 not out) and Marcus Stoinis (47) stood tall for the Stars amid a clatter of soft dismissals and some miserly Strikers bowling.
Stoinis, out-of-sorts West Indian Andre Fletcher (12), Maxwell (0) and wicketkeeper Seb Gotch (11) all holed out tamely as the Strikers applied the squeeze.
Wes Agar (2/19) and Daniel Worrall (2/28) delivered a maiden apiece in the powerplay and Rashid (2/29) narrowly missed a hat-trick.
Nevertheless, Rashid signed off in style in his last match for Adelaide before flying to Dubai on one-day international duties for Afghanistan.
The Strikers will face off with the Stars for the second time this week, when they meet at the MCG on Friday night.