Who will win Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades, BBL 2020?
Top-of-the-table Melbourne Stars take on winless, bottom-of-the-league defending champions Melbourne Renegades in the first Melbourne derby of this year’s Big Bash League. The match, at the MCG, takes place on January 4 and gets underway at 18:40 local time.
Melbourne Stars have won four of their five matches so far, most recently chasing 143 to beat Sydney Thunder by three wickets – Nick Larkin starring in that game with 65 from 45 balls. They are top of the league, level on points with Sydney Sixers but having played a game less.
The Renegades, on the other hand, have lost all five matches they have played so far in their title defence. The latest defeat came last time out against the Sixers – when they failed to defend 153/6 in a six-wicket defeat at Marvel Stadium.
MLS vs MLR, BBL 2020: Where to watch/Live streaming
Live TV: Fox Sports, Seven Network, Sony Six, BT Sport, SuperSport, Sony Ten Network, BeIn Sports
Live streaming: SonyLiv, Kayo Sports, SuperSport Live, Foxtel Sports, Optus Sport
MLS vs MLR Toss Prediction
Melbourne Renegades won the toss in their most recent match and batted first. The Stars may look to field first if they win the toss this time.
MLS vs MLR Weather Report
Temperatures are set to drop in the evening in Melbourne but conditions will be mostly sunny when this match gets underway – albeit with a bit of win about.
MLS vs MLR Pitch Condition
The MCG has had problems lately, but the groundstaff produced a well-balanced, well-rated wicket for the Boxing Day test and so this match should also see seam and spin.
Read on for team previews, betting tips, latest odds and match prediction for Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades, BBL 2020...
Melbourne Stars Team News & Playing 11
MLS Team News
Dale Steyn will make his final appearance for the Stars before being replaced by Pat Brown, though it remains to be seen if Sandeep Lamichhane will recover from injury to feature alongside him. He was rested last time out, and Haris Rauf returned to the team. Clinton Hinchcliffe could also continue after replacing Dan Worrall last time out.
MLS Key Players
Marcus Stoinis: An all-round star of last season’s Big Bash League, he has featured a specialist batsmen in this year’s tournament but his 58 against Sydney Thunder was his second half-century and takes him to 213 runs in five innings.
Glenn Maxwell: Refreshed after his self-imposed break to deal with mental health issues, the Stars’ captain took 2-17 last time out and has starred with the bat too – hitting a handy 83 against Brisbane Heat.
Dale Steyn: Set for the final game of his brief spell with the Stars, the South African paceman is one wicket short of 250 in T20 cricket. He has taken 1-29, 2-12 and 0-24 in his three matches so far.
MLS Team Form
Melbourne Stars have won four and lost one of their five matches so far. It is now two wins in a row since their narrow defeat to Adelaide Strikers too. First, they beat Hobart Hurricanes in a rain-affected match in Launceston, then Haris Rauf took 3-24 last time out and the Stars chased 143 to beat Sydney Thunder by three wickets thanks to Nick Larkin’s 65.
Melbourne Stars Predicted Playing 11
Marcus Stoinis, Nic Maddinson, Nick Larkin, Peter Handscomb (wk), Glenn Maxwell (c), Ben Dunk, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Adam Zampa, Clinton Hinchcliffe, Dale Steyn, Sandeep Lamichhane
Melbourne Renegades Team News & Playing 11
MLR Team News
Tom Andrews made his debut last time out, but Harry Gurney is expected to return in time to face Melbourne Stars – the English left-arm paceman returned home for his brother’s wedding.
MLR Key Players
Shaun Marsh: The veteran Western Australian has made an impact in his debut season with the Renegades. He has scored 190 runs so far, including 40 last time out and a half-century against Perth Scorchers.
Aaron Finch: Hit exactly 50 in the matches against Hobart Hurricanes and Adelaide Strikers and has 166 runs in five matches so far. His two 50s were his 57th and 58th in T20 cricket (alongside seven centuries) and he still has a strike rate of 143.84 in the format.
Kane Richardson: Has either been in the wickets or bowled economically so far – taking two four wicket-hauls, against Perth Scorchers and Adelaide Strikers, and generally keeping things tight otherwise.
MLR Team Form
Melbourne Renegades are without a win since last year’s final. They have lost five from five so far, most recently losing to Sydney Sixers. They had previously fallen 18 runs short against Adelaide Strikers, as Kane Richardson’s four-wicket haul and Aaron Finch’s 50 proved to be in a losing cause – both for the second time in this tournament. Against the Sixers, they posted 153/6 from their 20 overs, but lost by six wickets with a ball to spare.
Melbourne Renegades Predicted Playing 11
Sam Harper (wk), Aaron Finch (c), Shaun Marsh, Marcus Harris, Dan Christian, Beau Webster, Will Sutherland, Cameron Boyce, Kane Richardson, Richard Gleeson, Harry Gurney
Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades Head to Head
Melbourne Renegades beat Melbourne Stars in last year’s final – Tom Cooper hitting 43* in a total of 145/5, and Ben Dunk’s half-century proving in vain as the Stars could only post 132/7 in reply. The Stars had won both league phase matches, however, and have a much better head-to-head record – they have 11 wins and the Renegades have five in this fixture.
MLS vs MLR Head to Head Stats
| Matches Played |
MLS Won |
MLR Won |
Tie |
No Result |
| 16 |
11 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades Betting Odds
Given their respective form, it is no surprise to find Melbourne Stars are big favourites to beat the Renegades.
MLS Bet365 Odds
- MLS to Win the Match: Melbourne Stars are 1.66 favourites with Bet365 to beat the Renegades.
- MLS Top Batsman: Marcus Stoinis is 3.75 favourite to be the Stars’ top batsman with Bet365, while Glenn Maxwell is 4.50. Nic Maddinson can also be backed at 4.50 with Bet365, while Nick Larkin is 5.00 and Peter Handscomb is 6.00.
- MLS Top Bowler: Dale Steyn is one of three Stars bowlers priced at 4.00 to be their leading bowler with Bet365. In his final game of his 2019-20 BBL stint, the South African is joint-favourite alongside Adam Zampa and Sandeep Lamichhane. Nathan Coulter-Nile is 4.50.
MLR Bet365 Odds
- MLR to Win the Match: Melbourne Renegades are 2.20 outsiders to win, after five straight losses, with Bet365.
- MLR Top Batsman: Aaron Finch is 3.25 to be the Renegades’ top batsman at the top of the order, while in-form Shaun Marsh can be backed at 3.50. Both Marcus Harris and Sam Harper are 5.50, meanwhile.
- MLR Top Bowler: With two four-wicket hauls to his name, Kane Richardson is 3.00 favourite to be the Renegades’ top bowler with Bet365. Harry Gurney is 3.75, while Cameron Boyce can be backed at 4.33 after his own recent good form and Richard Gleeson is 4.50.
MLS Betway Odds
- MLS to Win the Match: Table-topping Melbourne Stars are 1.61 favourites with Betway to beat the Renegades.
- MLS Top Batsman: Marcus Stoinis is 3.50 favourite to be Melbourne Stars’ top team batsman, ahead of captain Glenn Maxwell – who can be backed at 4.33. Nic Maddinson and Nick Larkin are both 5.00, while Peter Handscomb is 5.50.
- MLS Top Bowler: Adam Zampa, Dale Steyn, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Sandeep Lamichhane are all 4.00 with Betway to be the Stars’ top bowler. Haris Rauf is actually listed as favourite at 3.60, but will not play if Steyn and Lamichhane are both fit.
MLR Betway Odds
- MLR to Win the Match: Melbourne Renegades are 2.10 outsiders to win with Betway.
- MLR Top Batsman: Aaron Finch is 3.00 to be the Renegades’ top batsman at the top of the order having hit two half-centuries so far. Shaun Marsh is also in good form and is priced at 3.25 with Betway. Opener Sam Harper is 4.75 and Marcus Harris is 5.50.
- MLR Top Bowler: In-form Kane Richardson is 3.25 to be Australia’s top team bowler with Betway, while Cameron Boyce is 4.50. Richard Gleeson can be backed at 5.00.
🏆 Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades Prediction
Melbourne Stars are in excellent form, while Melbourne Renegades are struggling to say the least. It is hard to imagine this match going any other way.
Jan 04, 2020
13:40 IST / 8:10 GMT
Melbourne Cricket Ground - Melbourne, Australia
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