Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades, Big Bash League 2020-21, Today Match Prediction 17 Jan 2021

mls vs mlr Match Prediction & Analysis

The battle for the top 4 positions is heating up in BBL 10 as 4 teams are now at exactly 20 points. Melbourne Stars have inched another step closer to that goal with a resounding victory in their last game. They have had a topsy-turvy season with 4 wins and 5 losses but are still hanging in there with a chance. They will get a great opportunity to add some more points when they face the bottom-placed Melbourne Renegades in back-to-back games next. The season seems to be over now for the Renegades who are struggling in all departments. This is the best chance for the Stars to leap ahead in the race.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Melbourne Stars Preview

After losing two matches in a row, Melbourne Stars came back strongly with a thumping 111-run win against the Adelaide Strikers. That victory boosted their net run rate and also helped them reach the No.4 spot on the table, although that might be temporary. In their last game against the Strikers, the Stars posted 179-2 on the board and then shot out the opposition for just 68 runs. The hero of the match for them was opener Andre Fletcher whose stunning unbeaten 89 off 49 balls set the game for Melbourne. 

This performance will be a huge boost to the middle-order and if they can continue this form then the likes of captain Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis, the leading run-getters for the team this season, can play with a little more freedom. Hilton Cartwright also looked in good touch in the last match and could be another batsman to watch out for.

On the bowling front, the Stars have leg-spinner Adam Zampa who is fresh from a brilliant spell of 5-17 in the previous match and has been their most consistent performer. Then there’s Billy Stanlake and captain Maxwell himself who have been most impressive.
 

Melbourne Stars Predicted Playing XI:

Marcus Stoinis, Andre Fletcher, Nick Larkin, Glenn Maxwell (c), Nic Maddinson, Hilton Cartwright, Seb Gotch (wk), Adam Zampa, Billy Stanlake, Haris Rauf, Zahir Khan

Melbourne Stars Actual Playing XI:

Hilton Cartwright, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa, Zahir Khan, Nic Maddinson, Sebastian Gotch, N Larkin, ADS Fletcher, Glenn Maxwell, Liam Hatcher, Billy Stanlake

Melbourne Renegades Preview

After their surprising victory against Adelaide Strikers last week, Melbourne Renegades are back to doing what they have done best in this BBL edition: losing. With a 5-wicket loss against Brisbane Heat in their previous encounter, the Renegades have now earned 8 defeats in 10 games this season. After being asked to bat first, they could only manage 149 runs on the board and the Strikers achieved the target with ease.

Not much has worked for the Renegades this season. Barring Shaun Marsh (247 runs) and Sam Harper (173 runs), the batting unit has largely failed. Even captain Aaron Finch (159 runs) has been quite inconsistent and is yet to hit a fifty this season. However, the Renegades would be happy that two of their lower middle-order batsmen - Beau Webster (50* off balls) and Fraser-McGurk (40 off 33 balls) - got some runs in the previous match. Whether they can continue their form remains to be seen.

The team’s bowling, meanwhile, has been overwhelmingly dependent on Kane Richardson (13 wickets) and Peter Hatzoglou (12 wickets). None of the others have had a consistent impact and that remains the Renegades’ biggest failing this season. 

Melbourne Renegades Predicted Playing XI:

Mackenzie Harvey, Shaun Marsh, Aaron Finch (c), Sam Harper (wk), Jack Prestwidge, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Beau Webster, Imad Wasim, Kane Richardson, Peter Hatzoglou, Noor Ahmad

Melbourne Renegades Actual Playing XI:

Aaron Finch, Sam Harper, Noor Ahmad, Mackenzie Harvey, SI Wasim, Shaun Marsh, KW Richardson, Jake Fraser McGurk, Peter Hatzoglou, BJ Webster, Will Sutherland

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The pitch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground has always been pretty even with something in it for both the batsmen and the bowlers. It’s quite hard early on and helps the batsmen but tends to slow down as the game progresses. Spin bowlers will find good purchase from the surface in the second innings.

The weather forecast for Melbourne on the day of the game is pleasant and clear. We should get a full match.
 

Venue Details

The previous match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground – between the Melbourne Stars and Adelaide Strikers – was the first of the season at the venue. The Stars posted 179-2 on batting first, indicating that a good total here for the team batting first is likely to be in the range of 170-180 runs. 

Toss: To Bat

The team winning the toss is likely to bat first as it was evident in the last match here that getting runs on the board after batting first is a huge advantage.