BBL 2018-19, Match 35, Melbourne Renegades vs Melbourne Stars, Match Prediction - Weather report, Pitch conditions, Playing XIs and Live streaming details

Stars won the first face-off comfortably between the two teams.

Published - 18 Jan 2019, 13:50 IST | Updated - 18 Jan 2019, 13:50 IST

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The 35th match of the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) will renew the Melbourne derby at the Docklands Stadium. The Stars and Renegades, with contrasting fortunes, will face each other for the second time this season with the former side winning the previous encounter. However, a lot has changed since then for both the teams and the Renegades are sitting pretty at the second position in the points table.

Apart from a blip against the Heat recently, the team has looked in good touch. They were thoroughly clinical in their last game against the Sydney Sixers and will be definitely confident of repeating similar heroics. Mohammad Nabi was the unlikely hero for the Renegades with the ball who also finished the proceedings with a first-ball six. With the top position well and truly insight for the Men in Red, expect a clinical effort from the team.

Moreover, they will also get a major boost as Aaron Finch is available for this game with the India series ending on Friday.

The fate of Stars has gone from bad to worse. Their gun players left for the national duty and since then, they have lost three matches on the trot. Their top four players, Glenn Maxwell, Peter Handscomb, Adam Zampa, and Marcus Stoinis all return for this clash which sets up the derby nicely. Suddenly, the Stars look a completely different unit and it will be interesting to see how they fare now.

Pitch Conditions

This is the home game for the Renegades and they have won two out of three games this season so far. Both the victories came when they were batting second and no wonder the teams will opt to field first. The scores haven’t been on the higher side and a middling total could be deemed as par on the slow pitch. As far as the weather is concerned, it will be a lot cooler in Melbourne with the temperatures hovering around 20 Degrees Celsius.

Team Combinations

Melbourne Renegades

The Renegades will have Aaron Finch and Marcus Harris opening the innings. The skipper Finch will be available for some time now as he’s not the part of Test team which will face Sri Lanka next week. He will replace Mackenzie Harvey in the line-up while the rest of the team will be same it seems. Kane Richardson’s return has bolstered the bowling as well and the spinners have been doing decently for them this season.

Probable XI: Aaron Finch (c), Marcus Harris, Sam Harper (wk), Cameron White, Tom Cooper, Mohammad Nabi, Daniel Christian, Jack Wildermuth, Kane Richardson, Cameron Boyce, Harry Gurney.

Melbourne Stars

Peter Handscomb will surely open the innings after the way he played his last knock and Ben Dunk will assist him. Glenn Maxwell returns to lead the side with Nic Maddinson also batting in the middle-over. The added boost of Marcus Stoinis is also a huge plus and he will pose a huge threat to the opposition along with Dwayne Bravo. Adam Zampa’s inclusion will see Liam Bowe out of the team as Plunkett, Bird and Tom O Connell are the other bowler.

Probable XI: Peter Handscomb (wk), Ben Dunk, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Seb Gotch, Dwayne Bravo, Liam Plunkett, Adam Zampa, Jackson Bird, Tom O Connell.