The Melbourne derby lived up to its billing as the Melbourne Renegades held their nerve to register a four-wicket victory over the Melbourne Stars in Match 22 of the Big Bash League (BBL) 2025–26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Chasing a competitive 174, the Renegades leaned on a match-defining knock from Josh Brown to overhaul the target with one ball to spare.
Melbourne Stars stumble to 173 despite late flourish
Asked to bat first after losing the toss, the Stars never quite found sustained momentum. Early wickets put them on the back foot, with Tom Fraser Rogers and Sam Harper providing brief sparks at the top. Campbell Kellaway anchored the innings with a composed 33, but the middle order failed to build partnerships as Glenn Maxwell and Blake Macdonald departed cheaply.
The innings found impetus late thanks to Hilton Cartwright and Tom Curran. Cartwright’s busy 28 kept the scoreboard ticking before Curran unleashed a blistering 38 off just 18 balls, striking seven boundaries to lift the Stars to a defendable 173/9. For the Renegades, Gurinder Sandhu was the standout with a four-wicket haul, while Callum Stow and Hassan Khan chipped in with timely strikes to keep the Stars in check.
Josh Brown leads Renegades’ to thrilling win
In response, the Renegades were given a flying start by Brown, who dominated the powerplay with a series of crisp drives and powerful pulls. Despite early setbacks, including the dismissals of Tim Seifert and Jake Fraser-McGurk, Brown held firm at one end.
Mohammad Rizwan played the ideal supporting role, rotating the strike and ensuring the chase stayed on track. Brown’s authoritative 84 off 48 balls, laced with nine fours and four sixes, laid the foundation for victory before he fell in the closing overs. With the equation tightening, Will Sutherland provided the finishing touches, striking two towering sixes in a brisk cameo to seal the chase at 177/6 in 19.5 overs.
The Stars’ bowlers struggled to apply consistent pressure on a batting-friendly surface. Haris Rauf and Peter Siddle picked up two wickets apiece but conceded runs at crucial stages, while Marcus Stoinis proved expensive in the death overs. Mitchell Swepson was the most economical, but the lack of breakthroughs in the middle overs allowed the Renegades to stay ahead of the required rate.
Player of the match batting performance from Josh Brown ⚡#JoshBrown #BBL2025 pic.twitter.com/R3EoGpWhYL
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) January 4, 2026
