Harper and Rogers Star as Melbourne Stars Cruise Past Renegades by 8 Wickets

MELBOURNE: A fabulous batting display from Sam Harper and Tom Rogers propelled the Melbourne Stars to a dominant eight-wicket victory over the Melbourne Renegades at Marvel Stadium on Saturday. Stars ended a three-match losing streak in emphatic fashion. 

Chasing 167, the Stars completes the target with 25 balls to spare with a match-winning 84-run opening partnership. 

Harper, the BBL’s leading run-scorer, continued his sensational form with an unbeaten 84 from 51 deliveries, while Rogers notched his highest BBL score of 53, including the second-fastest fifty in franchise history off just 19 balls. The duo’s calculated aggression neutralized the early threat posed by Renegades’ new-ball pair, leaving the home side with little room to breathe.

Rogers’ Power Play Sparks Momentum

Rogers set the tone for the chase immediately, punishing a wayward delivery from Jason Behrendorff over fine leg and following it up with a thunderous straight drive in the fourth over that raced to the rope. His timing and placement exposed Brendon Doggett on debut, who struggled to adjust his lengths despite his recent preparation with Australia’s Ashes squad.

The opening stand of 83 runs in just 7.2 overs left the Renegades with a glimmer of hope, only when Rogers was run out in a rare misjudgment on a quick single. Campbell Kellaway briefly added to their chances as he got out early, but Harper’s composure at the crease quickly sealed the game’s momentum.

Harper’s mastery combined classic strokeplay with sharp running between the wickets, taking advantage of gaps left by a jittery Renegades field. Glenn Maxwell provided support with an unbeaten 20, while Harper reached his half-century off 35 balls, including a clever scoop for four and a towering six over cover.

Renegades’ Reliance on Brown Proves Insufficient

Josh Brown’s 80 from 50 balls was a lone bright spot for the Renegades, featuring seven boundaries and four sixes. Yet, lack of support from the rest of the batting line-up, coupled with inconsistent running, prevented a threatening total. Wickets at crucial intervals, including Brown trapped lbw by Peter Siddle in the 18th over, curtailed any hopes of a competitive finish.

Bowling contributions from Marcus Stoinis (3-33) and Peter Siddle, alongside economical spells from Haris Rauf, ensured that the Stars’ fielding lapses did not cost them. Despite a few dropped catches and misfields, the disciplined bowling attack kept the Renegades’ total in check at 166 for 7.

With this victory, the Stars climb back into second place on the BBL points table, while the Renegades remain rooted in seventh. 

The performance underscores the Stars’ reliance on top-order firepower, particularly Harper and Rogers.