Christian propels Renegades to maiden BBL title

It turned out to be a case of so near yet so far for Melbourne Stars as they collapsed in a heap to lose the 2018-19 BBL final against Melbourne Renegades at the Docklands stadium. At 93 for no loss, the Stars looked on course to end their hoodoo of not having won the BBL to rest. However, Daniel Christian, Cameron Boyce and Chris Tremain shared two spoils each to engineer a collapse as Renegades restricted Stars to 132 for 7 and hoisted their maiden BBL title.

While chasing down a rather modest target of 146, Ben Dunk (57) and Marcus Stoinis (39) had set the platform with a fine opening stand. However, in the 13th over, Boyce gave Renegades a window of opportunity by dislodging Stoinis. The all-rounder attempted to loft the spinner but could only hear the death rattle.

Chris Tremain followed it by sending Peter Handscomb back to the hut. In an attempt to keep up with the asking rate, Dunk too perished as Boyce snared his second scalp. By then, the required run rate had mounted to over nine. Glenn Maxwell, who was dropped by Cameron White in the 15th over, Nic Maddinson, Seb Gotch and Dwayne Bravo didn't last long either as Stars slid to 113 for 7 at the end of the 17th over.

In the final over, Stars needed as many as 28 runs. Adam Zampa smashed Christian for a four and a six but by then the writing was on the wall for the side. At the completion of Stars' innings, there was ecstasy and jubilation in the Renegades camp.

Earlier, Tom Cooper (43) and Christian (38), the star performer for Renegades, stitched a vital unbeaten partnership of 80 for the sixth wicket to lift the side from a precariously-placed 65 for 5 in the 11th over. Cooper essayed two fours and two sixes, while Christian finished with two fours and a six. Meanwhile, Jackson Bird and Zampa took two wickets each.

This was the sixth time Stars had reached the knockout phase of the BBL, but they yet again faltered at the business end of the tournament.

Brief scores: Melbourne Renegades 145/5 in 20 overs (Tom Cooper 43, Daniel Christian 38*; Adam Zampa 2-21) beat Melbourne Stars 132/7 in 20 overs (Ben Dunk 57; Chris Tremain 2-21) by 13 runs.