BBL|15: Sam Harper’s electrifying 84 not out steers Melbourne Stars to a commanding win over Melbourne Renegades

The Melbourne Derby is rarely short on fireworks, but on January 10, 2026, the 30th match of 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 Melbourne Renegades by eight wickets, chasing down a competitive target with 25 balls to spare. The hero of the night was wicketkeeper-batter Sam Harper, whose unbeaten 84 turned a potentially tricky chase into a stroll in the park.

Melbourne Renegades set a formidable foundation against Stars at Docklands

Winning the toss and electing to bat, the Melbourne Renegades looked poised for a massive total. Despite losing Tim Seifert early to Tom Curran, Josh Brown played a lone hand of sheer brilliance. Brown’s 80 off 50 deliveries was the backbone of the Renegades’ innings, featuring seven boundaries and four towering sixes. He found brief support from Jake Fraser-McGurk (17) and Mohammad Rizwan (21), taking the team to a comfortable 84/2 at the halfway mark.

However, the Stars’ bowling attack, led by the experienced Marcus Stoinis, triggered a middle-order squeeze. Stoinis was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with 3 for 33 and claiming the crucial wickets of Rizwan and Caleb Jewell in consecutive deliveries. Haris Rauf and Peter Siddle provided excellent support at the death, ensuring the Renegades couldn’t capitalize on their Power Surge. Late cameos from Hassan Khan (23) and Will Sutherland helped the Renegades post 166/7, a total that many felt was formidable on a surface offering a hint of grip for the spinners.

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Sam Harper’s match-winning blitz drives Melbourne Stars to dominant BBL|15 triumph

If the Renegades felt confident at the innings break, that feeling evaporated within the first four overs. Thomas Rogers and Harper came out like men possessed, racing to 50 runs in just 24 balls. Rogers was particularly destructive, smashing 53 off a mere 24 deliveries. His departure, courtesy of a sharp run-out by Fraser-McGurk, did little to stem the flow of runs.

Harper then took full command of the chase. While Rogers provided the initial blast, he provided the sustained heat. Displaying a wide array of innovative sweeps and traditional drives, Harper reached his half-century in 35 balls. He found an able partner in Glenn Maxwell (20*), and together they dismantled the Renegades’ bowling depth.

The Stars utilized their Power Surge effectively, accumulating 26 runs in two overs to kill off any remaining hope for the home side. Harper finished the game in style, remaining 84 not out from 51 balls, an innings punctuated by nine fours and four sixes. The Stars reached 170/2 in just 15.5 overs, securing a massive boost to their net run rate and cementing their position at 2 on the ladder. Harper was rightfully named Player of the Match.

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