The Melbourne Stars host the Melbourne Renegades in a Big Bash League clash that is shaping as a do-or-die derby at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Join me on The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:10pm (AEST).
They say if you cut yourself in Melbourne, any health care worker can tell who you support. If the blood is a medium shade of green it means you are a Stars fan with all that it implies: you are conservative, pro-establishment, part of the old order.
If heaven forbid your blood is that unnatural colour red, then you are a free-thinker, and individualist, a Renegade.
Why this matters now is that the two Melbourne BBL clubs are going into battle at the famous MCG.
Melbourne will be split down the middle.
You are either a red or a green and to add just a bit more spice to this derby, the match takes on the added significance of being a virtual elimination final as the loser will almost certainly miss out on the top four.
Neither team has started brilliantly and the Renegades fortunes appeared to have hit rock bottom when they were given a sound thrashing by the Stars just two matches ago.
In an abysmal showing, the Renegades were dismissed for 57 – the lowest total in the history of the competition. That was before a combination of new arrivals, England’s Ben Stokes and Bangladeshi Shakib Al Hasan, had the Renegades faithful starting to believe.
Ben Stokes made batting look easy on a difficult pitch against the Hurricanes, smashing 77 off 37 balls. His performance gave the Renegades a competitive total which their bowlers defended in a very professional manner.
The spin bowling of Al Hasan and Ahmed was superb, with both mixing up the deliveries and reacquainting Big Bash audiences with the subtle arts of dip and drift. The brilliant wrongun’ from Ahmed to dismiss Birt was a masterpiece of the spinner’s craft.
Likewise the Stars who for all the hype, had failed to live up to expectations up until the last derby. Their crushing performance over the Renegades set up a stern test against Sydney. The exciting super over win against the Sixers has finally given the Stars some momentum and much like a Kevin Pietersen innings could finish the season strongly.
The Stars have regained their mojo with good team performances without any one player completely standing out. The bowling combination of the three B’s – Beer, Boland and Bird has performed strongly and Keven Pietersen is looking in good touch with the bat. Wright, Cam White and Maxwell all still have yet to set the world alight but the signs are things are starting to turn.
With each team having two wins from five matches, tonight’s loser will almost certainly miss out on the finals. It makes this Melbourne derby the most important in the short history of the Big Bash.
Tip: Melbourne Stars to continue on their winning ways.
Join The Roar from 7.10pm (AEDT) for all the action
Preview author: 70s Mo (follow him on Twitter @70s_mo)
Justin Ware
Roar Guru
The Melbourne Stars have won tonight's derby against the Melbourne Renegades by one run thanks to a scampering Tom Triffitt. For the Renegades, Matthew Wade reminded the Australian cricketing public that he's still more than a chance to return to the international game upon Brad Haddin's impending departure. Wade played fluently for his 71 that came off just 49 deliveries and without an important partnership between he and Tom Beaton, the Renegades would not have been in the game tonight. As has been the case this season, the Renegades live and die on the efforts of too few, and nothing truer could be said of their batting depth, where it could be argued the tail starts at 5. The Stars bowled exceptionally well at times. Michael Beer was industrious, registering the tidy figures of 0/13 off three overs. James Faulkner picked up the best figures for the Stars, claiming 3/19 from just three overs. John Hastings was particularly expensive, conceding nine runs an over for his figures of 1/36. Set a target of 154 to win by the lowly Renegades' batsmen, the Stars made tough work of what should have been a regulation run chase. Luke Wright was shaken up by a brutal James Pattinson bouncer that clipped the grill of his helmet, he was dismissed the next ball. Cameron White continued his indifferent form with the bat this BBL season, sweeping Shakib for six only to be bowled around his legs the very next ball. Glenn Maxwell and Kevin Pietersen came to the crease, with the score reeling at just 2/14. What happened next was a t20 batting masterclass, Maxwell punished the Renegades, racing to 66 off 46 balls and KP knocked up a classy, composed 49. The pair put on 120 runs for the third wicket, setting a new Melbourne Stars record. However, both departed in relative succession, Maxwell first, bowled trying to slog sweep Fawad Ahmed, and Kevin Pietersen top edged a Ben Stokes bouncer. What ensued next was utter chaos, three wickets fell for just ten runs. Faulkner, Keath and Hastings all fell cheaply. Stokes found himself on a hat trick, but was denied by youngster Alex Keath. But a barrage of poor running and run outs saw the Stars limping to the finish line. Matthew Wade conceded an extra run via an over throw, as he clipped the stumps attempting a run out that wasn't on, and it proved the difference. The Stars required just one run off the final ball. Rimmington, who had just pulled off a stunning run out moments before, fired in a quick yorker on the leg stump. Tom Triffitt got an inside edge and he hustled down the other end for a quick single that would win the game. Callum Ferguson almost pulled off the run out of the new century, picking up the ball, diving and flicking the white rock in one motion. On first glance it appeared it was a direct hit, and a super over would proceed. However, upon review by the third umpire, it was ruled that Nathan Rimmington had hit the stumps with his forearm, and the ball had in fact missed by an agonisingly small margin. The Stars were victorious in one of the best games ever witnessed in the BBL.
Bluebag
Guest
Great game, thriller of a finish. Bad luck Renegades!
Justin Ware
Roar Guru
Wow. Incredible. The Third Umpire had the hardest decision of all time to adjudge and in the end the right call was probably made. Ferguson pulled off some Ponting-esque fielding off the last ball of the Star's Innings and flicked the ball back to the bowler's ends. On first look it appeared Ferguson had run out Triffitt at the bowler's end, which would have sent the game into a super over, but after further review it appeared that Rimmington brushed the stumps with his arm. The Stars win! Amazing game. Match wrap up to come soon.
Justin Ware
Roar Guru
DO NOT GO ANYWHERE! A run out is being reviewed here...
Justin Ware
Roar Guru
WICKET! RIMMINGTON! Triffitt rockets the drive back at Rimmington, he slips as he bowls and the shot comes straight back to him, he then runs out Hastings who is three metres out of his crease! One off one needed!!! Unbelievable. Simply unbelievable. Scott Boland comes out to the crease. Will it be a super over or a last gasp victory for the stars?
Justin Ware
Roar Guru
WICKET! Incredible sequence of events! Rimmington bowls a full toss and Keath flicks it away over mid wicket! Then Stokes misfields! Keath was called back for the third run that would have won the game but he is caught short of his ground and is run out! Keath has been run out! 1 needed off 2 balls!
Justin Ware
Roar Guru
Triffitt gets an inside edge and they hustle through again for a single. Three off three needed. Incredible stuff here at the MCG. Alex Keath on strike.
Justin Ware
Roar Guru
Triffitt pushes it through cover and they sprint through for two quick runs! Four of five required. Rimmington charges in and Triffitt misses! A dot ball! Four off Four required.
Justin Ware
Roar Guru
Two runs off the final ball of the Stokes over, Keath and Triffitt hustle through and it's going to be a very tight finish. 6 needed off the last over! This is going to go down to the wire! Rimmington will bowl the final over. Tom Triffitt who has yet to face a ball will take strike! Who will win? Impossible to know. A wicket here will make things interesting...
Justin Ware
Roar Guru
Dot ball! Huge dot ball. Stokes is right on the money for the hat trick ball and Keath defends. Next ball Keath scampers through for a single but Wade concedes an over throw after hitting the stumps! 8 needed off 7!
Justin Ware
Roar Guru
WICKET!! Stokes is on a hat trick! Incredible stuff, Faulkner bludgeons the cut straight down the throat of Nathan Rimmington. Faulkner c Rimmington b Stokes 5 (10). Maybe this game isn't over??? Another wicket here and things get very interesting. 5/144, 10 needed off 10. Alex Keath will face Stokes.
Justin Ware
Roar Guru
WICKET! Of course, right as heave the praise on KP he skies this shot right up in the air and Wade takes the catch. Kevin Pietersen c Wade b Stokes 49 (49). 4/144 off 18.1 overs.
Justin Ware
Roar Guru
Well it's been something of a calm collected masterclass by Kevin Pietersen, who's continued non selection for the English national team remains a joke. He's compiled a knock of 49 which has oozed with class and maturity. Stokes comes into the attack.
Justin Ware
Roar Guru
A crowd of 37,000 have attended tonight's derby, the Stars are 3/140 and need 14 off 16 balls. Rimmington has been used sparingly tonight, which is somewhat of a surprise. He's into his second over. Faulkner is 3 (7) and KP 47 (46).
Justin Ware
Roar Guru
Batting depth is mediocre unfortunately.
Justin Ware
Roar Guru
Ahmed completes his over, Faulkner has a couple off four balls. KP is 44 off 41 and will be looking to amass his third half century in the 2014/2015 BBL. 1/26 off 4 for Ahmed, impressive figures. Just 18 required off 24 balls. 3/136 off 16. Shakib will come back into the attack to bowl his final over.
Bobbo7
Guest
Renegades are an average team. Should have made 170 minimum from where they were.
Justin Ware
Roar Guru
WICKET! And right as I say this, Maxwell looks to slog sweep Ahmed over cow corner for a six, but he misjudges the length and is clean bowled. Very good innings from Maxwell. Maxwell b Ahmed 66 (44). This game is essentially over, James Faulkner will come to the crease with Kevin Pietersen. 3/134 off 15.2 overs.
Justin Ware
Roar Guru
Record third wicket partnership for the Stars, 120 run stand between Maxwell and KP.
Justin Ware
Roar Guru
Pattinson wraps up his four overs with figures of 1/32. 22 needed off just 30 balls. Ahmed will continue.