Stars shine in derby thriller as Renegades handed a third consecutive loss

Hilton Cartwright proved to be the final-over hero for the Melbourne Stars as a vintage BBL derby produced the most dramatic of results.

A good crowd at the MCG saw Marcus Stoinis win the toss and send the Renegades into bat first. The first over saw Josh Brown off the back of a half-century hit a four and was then dropped by Peter Siddle before hitting it down Glen Maxwell’s throat to dismiss him. The powerplay was poor for the Renegades losing Jake Fraser-McGurk as well to finish 2/21.

Jacob Bethell was dropped by Mark Steketee for just two runs. This came back to hurt the Stars as Bethell was one of the best Renegades batters. The English product took full advantage of his time at the crease. Six boundaries and some quick running between the wickets with Jonathan Wells saw the 21-year-old post 49 before he skyed a ball off Joel Paris. A 71-run partnership helped set the base for a late Renegades push.

Wells himself batted strongly to score 45 off 30 balls. The Renegades were stronger in the power surge as they made 26 from the two overs. The Gades continued to try and push the run rate after a slow start. Six of the final 10 overs saw more than 10 runs conceded by the Stars.

Joel Paris was the pick of the bowlers taking 2/23 off his four overs. A late slog from Laure Evans who made a quickfire 24 helped post a competitive score of 7/168.

The Stars came out poorly to begin the powerplay. Just a single from the first over before a disaster class in the second. Gurinder Sandhu bowled Tom Rogers off his first ball before Sam Harper badly misjudged a second run to be short of his crease. 2/5 and losing those two wickets in three balls put the Melbourne Stars in a perilous position.

Ben Duckett was left to pick up his pieces and promptly got to work. 27 off his bat in the powerplay left the Stars slightly ahead at 2/32 at the conclusion of the opening four overs.

A lengthy review process which once again put Snicko under the microscope deemed Dan Lawrence out as he tickled the ball through to Tim Seifert. The critical partnership of Duckett and Marcus Stoinis would aim to set up the Stars innings.

Taking all the singles available the partnership grew after Stoinis put his foot down hitting his old mate Adam Zampa down the ground for a massive six. Just after the 10-over mark, the partnership reached 50 as did Ben Duckett. Off 35 balls he steadied the ship and put the Stars slightly in front.

The Renegades struggled to find the breakthrough needed, outside of Sandhu’s bowling the Gades couldn’t stem the tide. Adam Zampa who received a chorus of boos from Stars fans had an economy of nearly 10 an over.

The power surge would prove crucial as the game held in the balance. Sandhu would continue his fabulous form to break the partnership at 83. Ben Duckett holding out in the deep dismissed for 67 off 49.

The Renegades would stand up when it matters most following up with catching out Stoinis gone the next over. 17 runs off the power surge thanks to a Hilton Cartwright meant the game still hung in the balance.

A missed runout opportunity followed by dropping Glen Maxwell in the same over only added to the drama that the 40,000-strong crowd witnessed. Maxwell and Cartright pushed hard and left 10 to get in the final over.

Hilton Cartwright would prove to be the hero, a long six down the ground put the Stars in touching distance of claiming an all-time epic derby. A four square of the wicket the next ball was enough to see the Stars win by 5 wickets.

It sees the Renegades lose their third straight as they aim to rebound away against Perth on the 7th of January. As for the Stars, they host the Sydney Sixers back at the MCG on the 9th of January.