Final result
Melbourne Renegades won by 4 wickets
Player of the match: J Brown
Result · Big Bash League
Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades
Result · Big Bash League
Venue par · 205Chase success · 58%POTM · J Brown
Match preview & overview
Renegades chase down 174 at the MCG to beat Stars by 4 wickets
Melbourne Renegades beat Melbourne Stars by 4 wickets in a BBL T20 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 4 January 2026. Stars set a target of 174 after posting 173/9 from their 20 overs, a total that fell below the MCG's average first-innings score of 205. Renegades reached 177/6 in reply, with J Brown named Player of the Match. The result snaps a run of three defeats in four meetings for the Renegades against their city rivals.
The Renegades' innings was built on an excellent powerplay. They scored 58 runs for 1 wicket in the opening six overs, nearly double the MCG's powerplay average of 35 runs. The middle overs continued the momentum: 73 runs for just 1 wicket across overs 7 to 15 put the chase comfortably on track. The final phase was scratchier. Four wickets fell in the death for 46 runs, tightening a game that had looked well in hand. The Renegades crossed the line, but the Stars showed enough to make it uncomfortable.
For the Stars, their 173/9 was always likely to be a challenging total to defend given the MCG's batting history. They bowled back into the contest at the death, but the damage done by the Renegades in the middle overs proved too great to undo.
Pitch report & venue insights
Melbourne Cricket Ground — 155-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.
155
T20 matches hosted
205
Avg 1st-innings score
190
Avg 2nd-innings score
58%
Chase success rate
38
Avg powerplay runs
57%
Toss-field rate
Key talking points
Moments the match hinged on
Headline angle
Renegades win despite tough death overs
Melbourne Renegades reached 177/6 to overhaul Stars' 173/9, but the closing stages were far from comfortable. The Renegades managed only 46 runs in the death overs whilst losing 4 wickets, suggesting the Stars made a proper fight of it in the final few overs.
Angle 02
Stars below the MCG average first-innings score
Angle 03
Renegades' powerplay set the platform
Angle 04
Stars' head-to-head dominance ends here
Angle 05
J Brown named Player of the Match
Key players
Players who decided it
Betting & analytical angles
Angles the data surfaced
- Top batter markets may offer more analytical interest than outright result lines at the MCG, where the venue average of 205 first-innings runs suggests individual high scores are common.
- Powerplay performance is historically significant at this ground, with the Renegades' 58/1 well exceeding the venue average of 35 powerplay runs. Markets around powerplay runs scored could be worth monitoring in future fixtures here.
- With a chase success rate of 56% at the MCG across 155 T20 matches, second-innings targets around 174 sit right at the tipping point between likely and unlikely. In-play lines at venues like this tend to move quickly once early wickets fall.
- Player of the Match markets in Melbourne derbies may be shaped by powerplay performance, given how influential the first six overs proved in this result.
For editorial context only. Not a forecast and not betting advice. 18+ only, please gamble responsibly.
Frequently asked
Questions about Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades
Who won the Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades BBL match on 4 January 2026?
Melbourne Renegades won by 4 wickets at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Chasing 174, they reached 177/6 with J Brown named Player of the Match.
What was the scorecard for the MCG BBL match on 4 January 2026?
Melbourne Stars posted 173/9 batting first, with 50 runs in the powerplay and 62 in the death overs. Melbourne Renegades replied with 177/6, scoring 58 in their powerplay before losing 4 wickets in the death for 46 runs.
What is the head-to-head record between Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades?
Across 29 BBL meetings, Melbourne Stars lead 18 wins to 11. Prior to this match, Stars had won three of the last four encounters between the two sides.
Where can I watch BBL matches live in the UK?
BBL matches are broadcast in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket. You can stream via Sky Go or pick up a day pass through NOW TV if you are not a subscriber.
Who was Player of the Match in the Stars vs Renegades game at the MCG?
J Brown of Melbourne Renegades was awarded Player of the Match after his contribution to the Renegades' successful chase of 174.
What is the typical run chase success rate at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in T20 cricket?
Based on data from 155 T20 matches at the MCG, the team batting second wins 56% of the time. The average first-innings score at the ground is 205, making a target of 174 slightly below the historical norm.
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Photo credits (3)
- Pat Cummins — photo by SirWellsy99, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
- Jasprit Bumrah — photo by Prime Minister's Office, GODL-India · source
- Virat Kohli — photo by Prime Minister's Office, GODL-India · source