170/2 (15.5)
CR : 10.74
166/7 (20.0)
CR : 8.30
Melbourne Stars won by 8 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Sam Harper
84(51)
15.2
1
C Stow to S Harper
Full and around leg. Harper backs away and drills it to long off for one.
15.3
0
C Stow to G Maxwell
Short and outside off. Glenn stabs it to cover point off his back foot.
15.4
1
C Stow to G Maxwell
Short and on the pads, clipped away through square leg for a single. SCORES ARE LEVEL!!!
15.5
4
C Stow to S Harper
DONE AND DUSTED! Full and outside off. Harper gets across, sits down, and sweeps it to the left of deep square leg for a boundary to seal the deal. THE MELBOURNE STARS HAVE DEFEATED THE MELBOURNE RENEGADES BY 8 WICKETS WITH 25 BALLS TO SPARE!!!
Over 16
Melbourne Stars 170/2
Glenn Maxwell20(17)
Sam Harper84(51)
Callum Stow0-33(3.5)
MLS won by 8 wickets
4:53 PM IST, 10:23 PM LOCAL TIME: Life rewards those who start early, stay calm, and finish with clarity, and the Stars did all three tonight. Simple. Ruthless. Clinical. Melbourne Stars chased down 167 in just 15.5 overs, winning by 8 wickets with 25 balls to spare. From ball one, the intent was loud. From the Renegades’ point of view, nothing went to plan with the ball. From the Stars’ side, everything clicked - timing, placement, and decision-making. This was not a chase built on panic. It was built on dominance.
The Powerplay? Fireworks. Early. Relentless. 11 came off the first over, 10 off the second, and 14 off the third - the Stars raced ahead without losing a wicket. Sam Harper and Thomas Rogers went berserk, treating the field like it wasn’t there. Rogers was fearless. Harper was elegant. The Powerplay ended at 50/0 in just 4 overs, and the Renegades already looked short of ideas. When intent meets timing, bowlers scramble.
How special was Thomas Rogers’ knock? Very. Blink-and-you-miss-it special. Rogers brought up a stunning fifty off just 19 balls, smashing 4 fours and 4 sixes at a strike rate north of 220. It was controlled aggression - not slogging, just clean hitting. The first wicket finally fell at 84 in 7.3 overs, when Rogers was run out for 53 off 24. A big blow? Yes. A turning point? Not really. The damage was already done.
Did the Renegades find any breathing space after that? Briefly. And barely. Campbell Kellaway came and went quickly, dismissed for 7 off 3, and suddenly it was 92/2 in 8.1 overs. Glenn Maxwell walked in under a bit of pressure. He struggled early. Missed timing. Even got dropped. But Harper stayed rock solid at the other end. The drinks break arrived with Stars at 113/2 after 10 overs, needing just 54 more. Game. Still open on paper. Not in reality.
What defined the middle overs (5-15)? Control. Pure control. Harper anchored the innings beautifully, rotating strike, punishing the loose ones. Maxwell found his rhythm slowly and then unclenched with a six. The 100 came up in 9.1 overs, and Harper followed it up with his 50 off 35 balls. The Renegades rotated bowlers, but no pressure stuck. Partnerships kept growing. Hope kept shrinking.
Was there ever a late twist or death-over drama? None. Zero. Nada. The Stars ensured the game never entered the death overs. Boundaries flowed in the 13th and 14th, and by the time 150 came up in 13.4 overs, the equation was laughably small. Harper remained unbeaten on 81 off 51, Maxwell supported with 20 off 17*, and the chase was sealed at 15.5 overs. Efficient. Professional. Almost cold-blooded.
Earlier, the Stars won the toss and chose to field, and that decision set the tone quietly but decisively. The Renegades never quite escaped the grip. Josh Brown stood tall with a classy 80 off 50, finding gaps, clearing ropes, and holding the innings together while wickets kept falling around him. The Powerplay brought 33/1, steady but not explosive, and although Brown stitched useful stands with Fraser-McGurk and later Rizwan, the momentum kept stuttering.
Haris Rauf’s pace and bounce removed JFM, Stoinis struck twice in one over to dismiss Rizwan and Jewell, and suddenly the middle overs slowed. A late push lifted the total to 166/7, but with just 50 runs coming in the last five overs, it always felt like 20-25 short on a good surface. A score that needed something extra with the ball, which never came.
The Powerplay? Fireworks. Early. Relentless. 11 came off the first over, 10 off the second, and 14 off the third - the Stars raced ahead without losing a wicket. Sam Harper and Thomas Rogers went berserk, treating the field like it wasn’t there. Rogers was fearless. Harper was elegant. The Powerplay ended at 50/0 in just 4 overs, and the Renegades already looked short of ideas. When intent meets timing, bowlers scramble.
How special was Thomas Rogers’ knock? Very. Blink-and-you-miss-it special. Rogers brought up a stunning fifty off just 19 balls, smashing 4 fours and 4 sixes at a strike rate north of 220. It was controlled aggression - not slogging, just clean hitting. The first wicket finally fell at 84 in 7.3 overs, when Rogers was run out for 53 off 24. A big blow? Yes. A turning point? Not really. The damage was already done.
Did the Renegades find any breathing space after that? Briefly. And barely. Campbell Kellaway came and went quickly, dismissed for 7 off 3, and suddenly it was 92/2 in 8.1 overs. Glenn Maxwell walked in under a bit of pressure. He struggled early. Missed timing. Even got dropped. But Harper stayed rock solid at the other end. The drinks break arrived with Stars at 113/2 after 10 overs, needing just 54 more. Game. Still open on paper. Not in reality.
What defined the middle overs (5-15)? Control. Pure control. Harper anchored the innings beautifully, rotating strike, punishing the loose ones. Maxwell found his rhythm slowly and then unclenched with a six. The 100 came up in 9.1 overs, and Harper followed it up with his 50 off 35 balls. The Renegades rotated bowlers, but no pressure stuck. Partnerships kept growing. Hope kept shrinking.
Was there ever a late twist or death-over drama? None. Zero. Nada. The Stars ensured the game never entered the death overs. Boundaries flowed in the 13th and 14th, and by the time 150 came up in 13.4 overs, the equation was laughably small. Harper remained unbeaten on 81 off 51, Maxwell supported with 20 off 17*, and the chase was sealed at 15.5 overs. Efficient. Professional. Almost cold-blooded.
Earlier, the Stars won the toss and chose to field, and that decision set the tone quietly but decisively. The Renegades never quite escaped the grip. Josh Brown stood tall with a classy 80 off 50, finding gaps, clearing ropes, and holding the innings together while wickets kept falling around him. The Powerplay brought 33/1, steady but not explosive, and although Brown stitched useful stands with Fraser-McGurk and later Rizwan, the momentum kept stuttering.
Haris Rauf’s pace and bounce removed JFM, Stoinis struck twice in one over to dismiss Rizwan and Jewell, and suddenly the middle overs slowed. A late push lifted the total to 166/7, but with just 50 runs coming in the last five overs, it always felt like 20-25 short on a good surface. A score that needed something extra with the ball, which never came.
Player of the Match: Sam Harper
Sam Harper (Player of the Match): "It was a really enjoyable day out there. I felt pretty good in the middle, and the focus has been simple - just sitting down with the boys and talking about hitting good shots in strong areas. I’m trying not to be predictable, not forcing anything, and letting the good shots do the work. That’s pretty much been the mindset.
Batting alongside someone like Glenn Maxwell definitely lifts your confidence. When he’s striking it so well and rotating the strike, it makes things easier at the other end. I’m also trying to take responsibility and grab the strike when I can. I’ve been lucky with my timing lately, and it’s just been really nice building a partnership with him.
Cricket is a massive confidence game, especially batting. When you put a couple of innings together, you start believing a bit more, and things slow down. Having played a fair bit of Big Bash now, I also know how quickly it can turn - it doesn’t always go your way, and it can be a cruel game at times. Nights like this make it all worth it, though - they’re fun, and you really enjoy being out there.
Even though the crowd’s been a bit quiet over the last couple of days, it was great to play in front of people again and feel that buzz. That always adds something special to the game.
I’ve got a lot of history with this club and with the Melbourne derbies. I had an incredible time with the Renegades - some of the best moments of my life, and they gave me my first real opportunities. I didn’t quite get that title there, which still hurts a bit, but I’m really loving my time with this group now. A lot of those boys are close mates, so wins like this are always special.
I’m just enjoying my cricket at the moment and hoping to keep contributing as the tournament goes on."
Batting alongside someone like Glenn Maxwell definitely lifts your confidence. When he’s striking it so well and rotating the strike, it makes things easier at the other end. I’m also trying to take responsibility and grab the strike when I can. I’ve been lucky with my timing lately, and it’s just been really nice building a partnership with him.
Cricket is a massive confidence game, especially batting. When you put a couple of innings together, you start believing a bit more, and things slow down. Having played a fair bit of Big Bash now, I also know how quickly it can turn - it doesn’t always go your way, and it can be a cruel game at times. Nights like this make it all worth it, though - they’re fun, and you really enjoy being out there.
Even though the crowd’s been a bit quiet over the last couple of days, it was great to play in front of people again and feel that buzz. That always adds something special to the game.
I’ve got a lot of history with this club and with the Melbourne derbies. I had an incredible time with the Renegades - some of the best moments of my life, and they gave me my first real opportunities. I didn’t quite get that title there, which still hurts a bit, but I’m really loving my time with this group now. A lot of those boys are close mates, so wins like this are always special.
I’m just enjoying my cricket at the moment and hoping to keep contributing as the tournament goes on."
How does this night close for both teams? For the Stars, this was a statement win - dominant batting, calm chasing, and a reminder of their firepower at the top. Harper was the heartbeat. Rogers, the spark. For the Renegades, it’s a night of reflection. 166 was never enough, and the bowlers couldn’t find answers early. Momentum matters. Tonight, it belonged entirely to the green side of Melbourne. And when momentum stays with you that long… the result writes itself.
Until then, I am Dev Rajawat, signing off, along with my co-commentator, Akshay Bhide, and scorer Raju Khariya. That’s it from our side. Thanks for joining. But cricket doesn’t sleep. Plenty is happening around the world. Switch tabs, follow the fun. Goodbye from this tab! TAKE CARE! BREATHE AND SMILE! CIAO!
Until then, I am Dev Rajawat, signing off, along with my co-commentator, Akshay Bhide, and scorer Raju Khariya. That’s it from our side. Thanks for joining. But cricket doesn’t sleep. Plenty is happening around the world. Switch tabs, follow the fun. Goodbye from this tab! TAKE CARE! BREATHE AND SMILE! CIAO!