Final result
Hobart Hurricanes won by 3 runs
Player of the match: BJ Webster
Result · Big Bash League
Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Stars
Result · Big Bash League
Venue par · 194Chase success · 46%POTM · BJ Webster
Match preview & overview
Hurricanes hold on by 3 runs as Stars' chase falls apart at Bellerive
Hobart Hurricanes defeated Melbourne Stars by 3 runs at Bellerive Oval on 21 January 2026 in a BBL T20 that produced far fewer runs than this ground typically yields. Hobart set 115 from their 20 overs, finishing on 114/5, while Melbourne's chase unravelled in the middle overs despite a brisk powerplay. The Stars ended on 81/4, falling 33 runs short. BJ Webster took the Player of the Match award for his contribution to Hobart's total. It was a result that trimmed Melbourne Stars' head-to-head lead over the Hurricanes to 15 wins from 24 meetings.
The match turned in overs 7 to 16. Melbourne had scored 59 from their powerplay, three more than Hobart managed, and briefly looked the more likely winners. Three early wickets, however, had already thinned the batting order, and the Stars could manage only 22 runs in the middle phase for the loss of one more wicket. That left too much to do in the final stage and Hobart held on.
Pitch report & venue insights
Bellerive Oval — 112-match sample
Aggregate conditions from 2002–2025. Numbers that tend to decide matches at this ground — par score, chase success, powerplay averages and toss bias.
112
T20 matches hosted
194
Avg 1st-innings score
171
Avg 2nd-innings score
46%
Chase success rate
44
Avg powerplay runs
55%
Toss-field rate
Key talking points
Moments the match hinged on
Headline angle
A low total that somehow held up
Hobart posted 114/5, well below Bellerive Oval's average first-innings score of 194 across 112 matches. That Melbourne Stars could not overhaul it tells you everything about how the Stars batted in the middle overs, where they managed just 22 runs for 1 wicket.
Angle 02
Melbourne's powerplay gave false hope
Angle 03
BJ Webster named Player of the Match
Angle 04
Toss winner couldn't convert the advantage
Angle 05
Head-to-head still favours Stars, but Hobart close the gap
Key players
Players who decided it
Betting & analytical angles
Angles the data surfaced
- Top batter markets may be of interest at Bellerive given the ground's tendency to produce low first-innings totals relative to its 194-run average, meaning individual contributions carry greater weight than usual.
- The powerplay wickets market could be relevant here. Both sides lost 3 wickets in their respective powerplays in this match, a pattern consistent with Bellerive's historically low average powerplay score of 42 runs.
- Total runs lines may be worth monitoring at this venue. The combined score of 195 runs across both innings sat well below what the ground's average scores would suggest, pointing to conditions that can suppress scoring.
- Player of the Match markets in BBL matches at Bellerive historically reward middle-order consolidators rather than openers, given the frequency of early wickets at this ground.
For editorial context only. Not a forecast and not betting advice. 18+ only, please gamble responsibly.
Frequently asked
Questions about Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Stars
Who won the Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Stars BBL match on 21 January 2026?
Hobart Hurricanes won by 3 runs at Bellerive Oval. Hobart posted 114/5 and Melbourne Stars were bowled out for 81/4, falling short of the target despite a fast start in their powerplay.
Who was Player of the Match in the Hurricanes vs Stars BBL game?
BJ Webster was named Player of the Match. He contributed to Hobart's innings of 114/5, which proved just enough to secure a narrow 3-run victory.
Where can UK fans watch BBL cricket in 2026?
BBL matches are available to UK viewers via Sky Sports Cricket. You can stream through Sky Go or pick up a day pass via NOW TV without a full subscription. Most fixtures are played in Australian evening time, which generally means early morning starts for UK viewers.
What is the head-to-head record between Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Stars?
Across 24 BBL meetings, Melbourne Stars lead 15 wins to 9, with no no-results. The Stars had won the previous two encounters in 2025, both at the MCG, before Hobart's victory on 21 January 2026.
What is Bellerive Oval like as a T20 venue?
Bellerive Oval in Hobart has hosted 112 T20 matches. The average first-innings score is 194 and the average second-innings score is 171, though conditions can vary significantly. Teams fielding first win the toss decision 54 per cent of the time, and chasing sides succeed in only 44 per cent of matches, making it a modest ground for run-chases.
What was the recent form of both sides going into this match?
Hobart Hurricanes had won two of their last five BBL fixtures in 2026, beating Adelaide Strikers and Sydney Thunder. Melbourne Stars had also won two of their last five, accounting for Adelaide Strikers and Melbourne Renegades, but had lost their most recent game to Perth Scorchers.
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Photo credits (1)
- Adam Gilchrist — photo by Luton Anderson, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source