BBL|15: Sam Harper’s thrilling 84 not out sends Melbourne Stars to impressive win over Melbourne Renegades

The Melbourne Derby rarely has fireworks, but the 30th match will take place on January 10, 2026 BBL|15 at Docklands Stadium belonged entirely to the men in green. In a clinical display of power-hitting and strategic bowling, the Melbourne stars dismantled the Renegades from Melbourne by eight wickets, chasing down a competitive target with 25 balls to spare. The hero of the evening was the wicketkeeper-batsman Sam Harperwhose unbeaten 84 turned a potentially tricky chase into a walk in the park.

Melbourne Renegades have laid a formidable foundation against Stars at Docklands

Winning the toss and electing to bat, the Melbourne Renegades looked set for a huge total. Despite loss Tim Seifert asked for Tom Curran, Jos Brown played a single hand of pure brilliance. Brown’s 80 off 50 deliveries formed the backbone of the Renegades’ innings, with seven boundaries and four towering sixes. He found short support from Jake Fraser-McGurk (17) and Muhammad Rizwan (21), taking the team to a comfortable 84/2 at the half.

However, the Stars’ bowling attack, led by the experienced Marcus Stoiniscaused a ‘middle-order squeeze’. Stoinis was the bowlers’ favourite, finishing with 3 for 33 and claiming the crucial wickets of Rizwan and Caleb Jewell for consecutive deliveries. Haris Rauf And Peter Siddle provided excellent death support, preventing the Renegades from taking advantage of their Power Surge. Late cameos from Hassan Khan (23) and Will Sutherland helped the Renegades post 166/7, a total that many thought was formidable on a surface that offered a hint of grip for the spinners.

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Sam Harper’s match-winning blitz powers Melbourne Stars to dominant BBL|15 victory

If the Renegades felt confident at the innings break, that feeling disappeared within the first four overs. Thomas Rogers and Harper came out like a man possessed, racing to 50 runs in just 24 balls. Rogers was particularly destructive, destroying 53 of only 24 deliveries. His departure, thanks to a sharp run-out from Fraser-McGurk, did little to stem the flow of runs.

Harper then took full control of the chase. While Rogers provided the initial explosion, he provided the continued heat. Using a wide range of innovative sweeps and traditional drives, Harper reached his half-century in 35 balls. He found a capable partner in it Glenn Maxwell (20*), and together they dismantled the Renegades’ bowling depth.

The Stars made effective use of their Power Surge and amassed 26 runs in two overs to snuff out the remaining hopes for the home side. Harper finished the match in style, remaining 84 not out off 51 balls, an innings punctuated by nine fours and four sixes. The Stars reached 170/2 in just 15.5 overs, massively increasing their net run rate and consolidating their position at second on the ladder. Harper was deservedly named Player of the Match.

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