Glenn Maxwell muscling one out of the ground [Source: @BBL/x]
A Glenn Maxwell-inspired Melbourne Stars unit upstaged hosts Renegades at the Docklands Stadium in match number 32 of the BBL 2024-25 season. The outcome marked the fourth successive win for the Stars, as they catapulted themselves from the bottom to number five on the eight-team points table.
Here’s the timeline of how Renegades vs Stars panned out at the Docklands Stadium:
Renegades vs Stars Highlights: Stoinis, Duckett Fail As Stars Slip To 75-7
Melbourne Renegades paceman Tom Rogers made instant impact by trapping Stars opener Sam Harper for a first-ball duck in the opening over. Ben Duckett listed four confident boundaries in his 14-ball 21 but the in-form left-hander failed to carry on courtesy of Fergus O'Neill.
O'Neill also cleaned up number four Thomas Rogers for a first-ball duck off the very next delivery, while Beau Webster had his threatening stay halted by Adam Zampa for 15.
Captain Marcus Stoinis and number seven Hilton Cartwright both failed to steer Stars to recovery as the two potential game-changers were dismissed by Tom Rogers (2-41) and Kane Richardson respectively. By the completion of 11 overs, the visiting Stars reached a troublesome 75-7, with Glenn Maxwell being the only recognized batter standing between a possible recovery and a complete collapse.
Renegades vs Stars Highlights: Glenn Maxwell Muscles Stars Back Into Recovery
Batting at number six, Glenn Maxwell wrestled his way to headline Melbourne Stars recovery. The charismatic middle-order batter launched 10 sixes and four boundaries in his enterprising knock of 90 from 52 balls.
Forming forces with tailender Usama Mir at 75-7, Maxwell’s 81-run partnership with the number nine batter bolted the Stars past the 150-run mark, and eventually to 165 all out by the time of the final ball of the innings. While Maxwell chopped himself off Kane Richardson (2-40), Adam Zampa (2-23) and Jacob Bethell (1-2) also claimed a wicket each during the slog overs.
Renegades vs Stars Highlights: Mark Steketee, Paris Rocks Renegades Top-Order
Chasing 166, the Melbourne Renegades lost each of their top four batters within the first eight overs of the innings. Stars paceman Mark Steketee accounted for the wickets of Marcus Harris, Josh Brown and Jake Fraser-McGurk with the new ball, while Joel Paris knocked over Jabob Bethell for just a run as the Renegades top-order crashed to 44-4 in 7.3 overs.
Paris also dismissed Tim Seifert (26 off 26) and Tom Rogers in quick succession to finish his four-over spell with impressive figures of 3-13.
Ageing warhorse Peter Siddle knocked over Renegades skipper and dangerman Will Sutherland for a run-a-ball 15 as the hosts reached a sluggish 80-7 at one stage of their run-chase.
Renegades vs Stars Highlights: Mark Steketee Records Best Figures Of The Season
Mark Steketee added two more wickets to his tally in the form of Harry Dixon and Adam Zampa to claim the first five-wicket haul of his T20 career. The speedster ended up snaring sensational figures of 5-17 from his four overs to mark the best bowling performance by any bowler in BBL 2024-25.
Beau Webster sealed the deal with the wicket of Fergus O'Neill as the Melbourne Stars wrapped up the Renegades for just 123 to secure a huge 42-run victory, their fourth in succession this season.