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The first of the Big Bash League derbies will see Melbourne Stars host Melbourne Renegades at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday.
We’ll bring you the live scores and commentary of the action throughout the game, with the match starting at 7.00 pm AEDT on January 7.
While Shane Warne should win the battle of popularity for his Stars, the Renegades are two points above them in the table. Another loss for the hosts Stars will push them to the bottom of the table and leave them without a lot of chance to make it to the knock-out stage.
The Renegades went down in each of their first two games but the return of Brad Hodge to the team and Shahid Afridi to form has been the cornerstone of their change of fortune. He scored a 31-ball 44 in his opener that was followed by a match-winning, unbeaten 72.
Afridi did not have the best of starts either but his performances mirror his side’s results. No wickets in the first two games and an economy rate of eight overs were followed by figures of 1/23 and 3/21 in the next couple.
Stars notched up their only win against Brisbane on the back of a superb near-century by Rob Quiney. But to be fair to them, they could easily have won at least one of two other games.
Losses by two and eight runs signify a touch of misfortune for the losing team.
James Faulkner’s seven wickets in the competition has been a standout for the Stars, overshadowed only by Warne’s ‘commentary stints’ from the bowling crease, rightfully portending a wicket for him.
Captain Cameron White promoted himself to the top of the innings last game but another single-digit score ensued. He has seven runs from four matches and unless he starts getting some big ones, it will become difficult to justify his place in the side.
David Hussey is the man in form for Stars while wicket-keeper Matthew Wade looked to be coming into his own last game.
The Renegades will go into the game as favourites in this game. However, given the presence of the heavyweights in the two squads, one can expect a highly entertaining battle irrespective of the result.
We will bring you the coverage throughout the game from the Melbourne Cricket Ground from 7.00 pm AEDT and hope to receive your opinions as the action unfolds.
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