REN vs STA Match Result

11:46 AM IST Sam Harper is the Player Of The Match. Harper expressed his immense enjoyment of the day's performance, explaining that his simple focus has been on hitting good shots into strong areas, avoiding predictability, and letting his natural timing do the work. He highlighted that batting alongside an explosive player like Glenn Maxwell significantly lifts confidence and makes rotating the strike easier, while he also tries to take responsibility and grab the strike when he can, noting how his recent timing has been a major asset in building strong partnerships. Harper views cricket as a massive confidence game, especially batting, where a couple of good innings build belief and slow things down, though he remains mindful of how quickly fortunes can turn in what can be a cruel game at times, which makes successful nights like this all the more enjoyable. He appreciated the return of crowd buzz, which adds a special element to the game, and reflected fondly on his history with the Melbourne derbies and the Renegades club that gave him his start, mentioning that not winning a title with them still hurts a bit, but he is currently loving his time with the Stars and hopes to continue contributing throughout the tournament.

11:45 AM IST With the Melbourne Stars clinching a crucial victory in the derby, they draw level with the Renegades for this season at 1-1. The BBL 2025/26 action continues as the Sydney Sixers prepare to face the Hobart Hurricanes on January 11, 2026. The game is scheduled to commence at 8.35 am IST (3.05 am GMT), and you can join us an hour earlier for all the pre-match analysis and buildup. Cheers!

11:33 AM IST Earlier in the game, the Melbourne Renegades posted a total of 166/7 in their 20 overs, a competitive score resulting from an innings that perfectly encapsulated the game of T20 cricket. A battle of intent versus interruption. The Stars struck early in the Powerplay, but Josh Brown's aggressive batting kept the Renegades alive. His significant 50-run partnership with Jake Fraser-McGurk laid a foundation, yet the momentum stalled in the middle overs as Marcus Stoinis struck twice in the same over to bring the Stars back into the contest. Despite a mixed execution of the Power Surge and the crucial wicket of Brown, who top-scored with 80, the Renegades reached a respectable total. However, disciplined bowling from Stoinis, Haris Rauf, and Peter Siddle in the death overs ensured the target remains chaseable for the Stars.

11:32 AM IST It was a tough day in the field for the Melbourne Renegades, as their bowling unit struggled to find answers for the Stars' aggressive approach. The attack failed to trouble the batters consistently, with the Stars cruising to the target in under 16 overs. Hassan Khan was the lone wicket-taker for the side in red, managing to pick up the one. The rest of the bowling group finished wicketless and were taken to the cleaners.

11:30 AM IST The clinical nature of the chase was further solidified by a dominant 75-run partnership for the third wicket, which effectively slammed the door on any hopes of a Renegades comeback. Sam Harper was the undisputed star of the show, top-scoring with a brilliant, calculated knock of 84 that anchored the entire innings. He found excellent support in Thomas Rogers, who played a vital role with a well-constructed 53. Even when the game reached its closing stages, the Big Show, Glenn Maxwell, provided the perfect support, playing second fiddle to Harper with a composed 20 off 17 balls to ensure the result was never in doubt.

11:29 AM IST The Melbourne Stars have officially claimed the bragging rights in this edition of the Melbourne Derby, pulling off a commanding victory to level the season score at 1-1. Chasing a target of 167, the Stars came out with a point to prove and seized control of the game from the very first over. The opening duo of Sam Harper and Thomas Rogers provided a scintillating start, firing on all cylinders to put the Renegades' bowlers under immediate pressure. Their massive 84-run opening stand dismantled any early plans the opposition had, setting a frantic pace that the Renegades simply couldn't slow down.