It’s the first Melbourne derby of the 2019-20 Big Bash season as the Stars and Renegades meet for the first time since the BBL08 final. We take a look at Saturday’s (4/1/2020) BBL Big Bash 2020 match which is between the Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades.
When: Saturday, 4th January at 7:15PM
Where: MCG, Melbourne
Bet: Bet On This Match HERE
Preview:
The Stars will still be having nightmares about their 13-run loss in last year’s decider. They restricted the Renegades to 5/145 and made a strong start to their chase through Ben Dunk (57 off 45) and Marcus Stoinis’ (39 off 38) opening stand of 93.
But the Stars were strangled by the Renegades’ bowlers and made just 39 runs from the last seven overs.
It’s been a diabolical start to the 2019-20 season for the defending champs, however. The Renegades are 0-5, most recently suffering a last-over six-wicket loss to the Sixers on Thursday.
Shaun Marsh (190 runs at 38) and Kane Richardson (8 wickets at 14.50) have been the struggling heavyweights’ best performers. Another defeat here would put the Renegades at long odds of reaching the finals.
The Stars, meanwhile, are flying at 4-1 in top spot. They edged out the Thunder by three wickets with two balls to spare on Thursday, Haris Rauf (3/24) and Nick Larkin (65 off 45) leading the way.
Rauf (10 wickets at 7.10) has been a revelation, while Stoinis (213 runs at 53.25) is having another big season.
Odds:
Tip: Melbourne Stars $1.68
Value BET: Man of the Match: Glenn Maxwell at $8.00
Teams:
Melbourne Stars
Glenn Maxwell (c), Pat Brown (England – international replacement), Hilton Cartwright, Jackson Coleman, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Ben Dunk, Seb Gotch, Peter Handscomb, Clint Hinchliffe, Sandeep Lamichhane (Nepal), Nick Larkin, Nic Maddinson, Jonathan Merlo, Lance Morris, Tom O’Connell, Dale Steyn (South Africa), Marcus Stoinis, Daniel Worrall, Adam Zampa
Melbourne Renegades
Aaron Finch (c), Cameron Boyce, Dan Christian, Tom Cooper, Zak Evans, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Richard Gleeson (England), Harry Gurney (England), Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Mackenzie Harvey, Jon Holland, Shaun Marsh, Joe Mennie, Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan), Kane Richardson, Will Sutherland, Beau Webster, Jack Wildermuth