Maxwell magnificent in milestone match as Stars reign over Renegades in rainy Melbourne derby

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Captain Glenn Maxwell has celebrated his 100th BBL game for the Stars with all-round excellence in their Melbourne derby win over the Renegades.

Everything went right for man-of-the-match Maxwell in Tuesday night’s rain-shortened game at the MCG as the Stars easily won by eight wickets.

They have won their last four games for a 4-3 record, while the Renegades are last on 1-5.

The Stars restricted the Renegades to 7-97 from 14 overs and then cantered to 2-98 with two overs in hand.

The Stars are now 16-9 in Melbourne derbies, after the Renegades won their two games last season. The teams will meet again at Marvel Stadium on January 13.

Yes Maxi!!

The Stars skipper goes 6️⃣6️⃣6️⃣ against former teammate Adam Zampa ????#BBL13 #GoldenMoment @BKTtires pic.twitter.com/brS9jWLYUE

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 2, 2024

Maxwell, the first player to reach 100 games for the Stars, won the toss and everything flowed for him from there.

He managed the Stars bowlers superbly, claimed 1-8 from his three overs and took two catches.

Maxwell then combined with opening batsman Tom Rogers, who top-scored with 42no, to close out the match with a typically entertaining knock.

He scored 32 from 15 deliveries, including three successive sixes off Australian white-ball teammate Adam Zampa.

Rogers, who posted his best BBL score this season, said it was fun watching Maxwell’s innings from the other end.

“I will never get used to being at the other end to Glenn Maxwell,” Rogers said.

“That’s pretty ridiculous. The things he can do, I can’t do them and a lot of people can’t do them.

“He’s box-office, that guy. A great captain and a great man.”

The start of the Stars innings featured Renegades paceman Tom Rogers bowling to opening batsman Tom Rogers.

“He’s an absolute beauty, Tommy Rogers – he’s got me out a few times now, so I was a bit nervous for those first couple,” the Stars’ Tom Rogers said.

Four in a row for the Stars who sunk crosstown rivals the Melbourne Renegades to the bottom of the #BBL13 table with a thumping eight-wicket win!

Report + highlights ???? #BBL13

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 2, 2024

The Renegades could not score a boundary from the fifth to the 11th overs.

Adding to the Renegades’ woes, FoxSports reported batter Joe Clarke is out for the rest of the tournament with the quad injury he suffered in Friday’s win over the Sixers.

They also had to leave out in-form spin bowler Mujeeb Ur Rahman because of a contract dispute with the Afghan cricket board.

Stand-in captain Will Sutherland strongly doubts Mujeeb will play for the Renegades again this season.

In-form Renegades No.3 Jake Fraser-McGurk only made 14 from 19 balls before he skied a catch to Maxwell off Beau Webster’s bowling.

They started brightly enough, scoring 33 from their first 2.5 overs, but once Jordan Cox was dismissed for nine they lost momentum quickly.

The ‘Gades set the trap, and it worked just like that! ????

Lawrence gone for seven! #BBL13 pic.twitter.com/9lQ1qyvhMy

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 2, 2024

Fellow opener Quinton de Kock top-scored with 23 from 16 balls before Maxwell dismissed him.

Spinner Dan Lawrence claimed 2-8 from his two overs.

Cox was brought in for his first BBL game of the season and Kane Richardson returned, while the Stars dropped Corey Rocchiccioli for Jono Merlo.

Out-of-form Renegades captain Nic Maddinson remains sidelined.

The late-afternoon rain, which delayed the game by more than an hour, prompted a cheeky post on X from the Marvel Stadium-based Renegades. “Bit wet, but likely to clear. This wouldn’t have happened if there was a roof, btw,” they posted.

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