MELBOURNE: Captain Marcus Stoinis’ economical bowling figures of 3/33 followed by half-centuries from openers Thomas Rogers and Sam Harper helped Melbourne Stars to a comprehensive 8-wicket win over Melbourne Renegades.
Batting first, the Renegades managed to post 166/7 in their 20 overs despite a quick half-century from Josh Brown.
The right-handed opener struggled for the Renegades as he top-scored with 80 off 50 balls with 7 fours and 4 sixes.
Apart from him, only Hasan Khan (23), Mohammad Rizwan (21) and Jake Fraser-McQuirg (17) managed to score double figures against a disciplined Stars bowling attack led by skipper Stonis, who claimed three wickets.
Pakistan international Haris Rauf took 2 for 31 from the Stones’ four overs, while Tom Curran and Peter Siddle claimed a wicket each.
In reply, a strong start from openers Rogers and Harper saw Stars chase down a target of 167 runs for the loss of just 2 wickets and 25 balls.
The opening pair put on 84 runs in eight overs, with Rogers dominating the Renegades’ bowling as he smashed four sixes and several fours as he scored 53 off 24 balls.
Hasan Khan gave the Renegades their second breakthrough in the next over when Campbell Kellaway (seven) was caught at deep backward square leg to reduce the total to 92/2 in 8.1 overs.
Harper then shifted gears and took the game out of the Renegades’ grasp with some clean hitting, eventually leading the Stars through an unbeaten 78-run partnership for the third wicket with Glenn Maxwell, who scored an unbeaten 20 off 17 balls.
The right-handed opener top scored for Stars with an unbeaten 84 off 51 balls with 8 fours and 4 sixes.
Hasan took the lone wicket for the Renegades.
The eight-wicket win confirmed Melbourne Stars’ second spot in the BBL 2025-26 standings as they now have 10 points after eight matches, while Melbourne Renegades are seventh with six points from a game.