Stars claim Melbourne Derby win at the MCG | Melbourne Stars - BBL
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Stars claim Melbourne Derby win at the MCG

17 January 2021

Dan Batten for Melbourne Stars Media

The Melbourne Stars defeated cross-town rivals the Melbourne Renegades by six wickets at the MCG in the first of back-to-back Melbourne Derbies.

A strong all-round performance saw the Stars chase down the target of 151 with relative ease, a 49-run partnership between Nick Larkin (43) and Glenn Maxwell (20) helping steady the ship after the Stars fell three runs short of claiming the Bash Boost point.

The wickets of Maxwell and Larkin brought the Renegades back into the game late but cameos from middle-order batsman Hilton Cartwright and Nic Maddinson saw the Stars reach the total with five balls left. 

Opener Marcus Stoinis got the wheels rolling in his powerful 43 from 32 deliveries, featuring a stunning pull shot six to the long square boundary.


Earlier, Sam Harper struck 63 as the mainstay of the Renegades’ innings, but the contributors were few and far between as the Stars claimed all 10 wickets with a ball to spare.

Afghanistan tweaker Zahir Khan claimed another two wickets following his double blow against the Adelaide Strikers, while quick Billy Stanlake dismissed key batsman Harper and Shaun Marsh on his way to 2/28.

An injury to Andre Fletcher soured a triumphant night against the old enemy, left in pain after being struck on the arm by a short pitched delivery while batting.

The Stars move up to third place on the ladder and take on the Renegades in their return fixture on Wednesday night.

CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN

The two captains were put in the ring from the outset and it was Maxwell who won the battle.

The off-spinner clean bowled his opposite number Aaron Finch for a duck on the second ball of the innings to get the Stars off to the perfect start.

The skipper finished with 1/29 with the ball and took a sharp outfield catch.

He also chimed in with 20 runs - becoming the second Stars player to score 2000 runs for the club - highlighted by a monster six down the ground over the long on boundary, 

CELEBRATION STATION

The Spiceman was dancing to his own tune on the MCG.

The West Indian brought out something different on this occasion, celebrating with a jig after the first of his two outfield catches.

Khan gave Fletcher some competition in the celebration stakes by bringing out the aeroplane after bowling Beau Webster.

Fletcher went one better after his next catch in the deep, shrugging his shoulders and shaking his head, making it abundantly clear that he does not drop catches.


HATCHER COMES BACK STRONG

Liam Hatcher’s night didn’t get off to an ideal start after coming in for speedster Haris Rauf, dropping Renegades opener Shaun Marsh early in the innings.

But the paceman rebounded strongly following his missed chance, taking three wickets for the night, including two scalps in the penultimate over, and earning man-of-the-match recognition.

His 3/29 from four overs helped stem the flow of the Renegades’ innings and took his season tally to 13 from eight matches.