Glenn Maxwell delivered a sensational match-winning performance to keep Melbourne Stars’ BBL season alive, producing a stunning 90 off 52 balls, including ten sixes. Maxwell’s brilliant strike farming and powerful batting turned the tide in the Melbourne derby, with Stars’ initially shaky 75 for 7 quickly transformed into a competitive total of 165. His explosive […]
Glenn Maxwell delivered a sensational match-winning performance to keep Melbourne Stars’ BBL season alive, producing a stunning 90 off 52 balls, including ten sixes. Maxwell’s brilliant strike farming and powerful batting turned the tide in the Melbourne derby, with Stars’ initially shaky 75 for 7 quickly transformed into a competitive total of 165. His explosive knock revived Stars’ hopes, leaving the Renegades stunned as they fell short in their chase.
The game took place at Marvel Stadium under closed-roof conditions due to Melbourne’s stormy weather, adding an extra challenge for both teams. After a series of early wickets, Stars appeared to be out of contention. However, Maxwell’s thunderous hitting dominated the Renegades’ bowlers and kept the match swinging in Stars’ favour. His performance was a reminder of the aggressive batting that had earlier turned the game against Afghanistan.
With this vital victory, Stars bounced back from a poor start to their campaign, having won four consecutive matches after losing their first five. They now remain in contention for the finals. Meanwhile, the defeat was a blow to the Renegades, who are struggling at the bottom of the table with a 3-5 win-loss record, disappointing a crowd of 38,000 fans.
Find the newest blog updates at IPLbookmakers.
Stars’ top-order collapse looked to spell the end of their BBL season as key players faltered. Opener Ben Duckett, who had been inconsistent throughout the season, fought hard to play himself in during his final match before heading to the ILT20. He managed 21 off 14 balls before miscuing a slower ball to long-on, marking the first of many setbacks for the struggling Stars.
Captain Marcus Stoinis attempted to counterattack with a powerful strike against quick bowler Tom Rogers, sending the ball soaring nearly to the roof. However, his ambitious shot was caught at long-on, leaving even tennis star Novak Djokovic, who was watching from the terraces, stunned. The dismissal added to Stars’ woes, as their batting order continued to crumble under pressure.
With their hopes fading, the Stars turned to Glenn Maxwell, whose ability to produce miracles was their last chance. Maxwell rose to the occasion, reminiscent of his famous World Cup double-century against Afghanistan, as he took charge of the strike and unleashed a barrage of sixes. His remarkable 90 off 52 balls included a personal T20 record of 10 sixes, highlighted by a 122-metre hit off Kane Richardson and three consecutive sixes off Will Sutherland. Maxwell also targeted legspinner Adam Zampa with precision, incorporating his signature switch-hits in one of his finest T20 performances.
In a strategy that paid off brilliantly, Maxwell refused singles, opting to face the majority of the balls. His partnership with Usama Mir produced a BBL record eighth-wicket stand of 81 runs, though Mir only faced five balls and remained scoreless. Maxwell’s extraordinary effort almost earned him a century, but he was dismissed off Richardson in the final over, chopping on to end one of the most surreal innings ever seen in BBL history.
Rogers was still reeling from the last Melbourne derby, just eight days ago, where Maxwell and Hilton Cartwright had taken him to task at the death, letting Renegades slip away at the MCG. However, Rogers regained his confidence in the next match, playing a pivotal role in Renegades’ remarkable comeback victory over Perth Scorchers in Perth. He gave his side a strong start by dismissing Sam Harper lbw on the very first ball of the match.
Quick bowler Fergus O’Neill, brought in for this game, made an immediate impact by claiming two key wickets. He removed Ben Duckett and Thomas Rogers for a golden duck, leaving Renegades on top. O’Neill also nearly took a hat-trick when Stoinis’ shot fell just short of a diving Richardson at mid-off. His spell of 2-16 from 4 overs helped put Renegades in a dominant position, but Maxwell’s brilliance was about to turn the match on its head.
Despite the strong start, Renegades’ bowlers were rattled as Maxwell unleashed his carnage, with his tactic of refusing singles leaving the attack helpless. Sutherland, in his first season as captain, struggled at times to manage the game effectively, particularly with Maxwell finding easy singles at the end of overs. To make matters worse, Richardson appeared to injure his hamstring and was unable to bowl the final over, further weakening Renegades’ bowling attack.
Mark Steketee, a seasoned quick, has been in sensational form, claiming 11 wickets in four matches since his inclusion in Stars’ lineup. However, his initial spell against Renegades was wayward, with some erratic new-ball bowling that nearly derailed Stars’ momentum. Despite this, Steketee regained his rhythm in the second over, finding a straighter line that helped him dismiss openers Marcus Harris and Josh Brown.
Steketee returned in the eighth over to dismiss Jake Fraser-McGurk, who had briefly threatened, before left-arm quick Joel Paris took control in the middle overs. Steketee capped off his remarkable performance with two more wickets at the backend, finishing with an outstanding 5 for 17. His clinical bowling was crucial in Stars’ dominance, helping them maintain control throughout the match.
Renegades’ inconsistency with the bat will be a major concern if they fail to make the finals. Fraser-McGurk, in particular, has struggled throughout the season, with his highest score a mere 26. On this occasion, he seemed calmer at the crease, determined to end his slump. He began to show signs of form, blasting a six off allrounder Beau Webster, but his stay was short-lived as he holed out, ending his innings at 19 from 17 balls.
At 44 for 4, Renegades were in deep trouble, but they held onto hope, inspired by their previous chase against the Scorchers led by Sutherland. After taking the Power Surge, they hoped for a turnaround, but Sutherland’s dismissal in the 13th over, bowled by the experienced Peter Siddle, effectively dashed their chances. The loss of key wickets left them in a precarious position.
Debutant Harry Dixon, an under-19 World Cup winner with Australia, faced an almost impossible task but showed glimpses of his promise with several elegant strokes. The left-handed Dixon, whose stylish batting resembled that of Shaun Marsh, contributed 13 before holing out. Fittingly, it was Maxwell who claimed the catch, capping off a memorable night for him.
Read More: Ira Jadhav, 14, Scores 346* for Mumbai U-19 in 50-Over Match