BBL 2025-26: Harper, Rogers lead rout of cross-town rivals to level scores

Melbourne Renegades hosted their counterparts from the other side of the town, Melbourne Stars, for the second Melbourne Derby of BBL 2025-26 at the Docklands Stadium on Saturday, January 10. The visitors won the toss and elected to field first under the roof.

Josh Brown and Tim Seifert opened the innings with Glenn Maxwell bowling the first over as usual. The former looked his attacking self right from the start as he scored 10 runs off the over. The Kiwi, on the other hand, failed to get going as Tom Curran dismissed him for 3(5). Jake Fraser-McGurk joined Brown and the duo took the team to the four-over powerplay mark without further damage (33/1).

Brown continued with his aggressive strokeplay as Fraser-McGurk provided him able support. The period soon after the powerplay produced 35 runs in three overs for the Renegades as the momentum was very much in their favour. However, Haris Rauf struck in the ninth over, sending back Fraser-McGurk for 17(14).

Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan joined Brown, but both the batters were unable to accelerate. The partnership lasted 27 balls producing only 28 runs as Rizwan was caught behind off skipper Marcus Stoinis. The Stars leader provided a double strike to his team as new man Caleb Jewell was out first ball. The Renegades found themselves at 102/4 in the 13th over.

The onus was now on Brown to regain the momentum which had fizzled out in the middle overs and the right-hander started to do the needful. Hassan Khan, who joined the opener, was not able to get away as his innings mimicked Rizwan's.

Just when the Renegades looked set to go big in the last three overs veteran Peter Siddle trapped Brown leg before wicket. The 32-year-old ended up scoring a fantastic 80(50), hitting seven fours and four sixes. There was no substantial contribution from the lower order as Hassan Khan's 23 off 18 balls helped the Renegades post 166/7 in their 20 overs. For the Men in Green, their skipper was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/33 from four overs.

The Stars openers began the chase with urgency. Both wicketkeeper-batter Sam Harper and Thomas Rogers looked in the mood to finish the match early as they went after all the bowlers. The Stars reached the 50-run mark at the end of the powerplay, being well ahead of the game.

Brendan Doggett, Jason Behrendorff, and Gurinder Sandhu found no answers to the onslaught as the Stars openers carried on in the same vein. A 19-run over by Doggett added insult to injury as the Stars were now 77 for no loss after six overs. The bowling team needed something special to break the partnership and it came from Fraser-McGurk whose rapid throw effected Rogers' run out for 53(24).

Campbell Kellaway, who joined Harper, could not last long as the 23-year-old left-hander was caught in the deep square leg region. Despite the two quick wickets the Stars were still in the driver's seat. Harper was now joined by Maxwell and the duo kept up with the momentum. The keeper-batter took the lead role as the 29-year-old reached his fifty off 35 balls.

The Renegades looked down and out as the game was almost in the visitor's bag. The batting duo took the team home in the 16th over as the Stars won by eight wickets. For the Renegades, Hassan Khan was the sole wicket-taker.

For his splendid unbeaten 84 off 51 balls, Harper was adjudged the Player of the Match.