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The COVID-19 ravaged Melbourne Stars fought hard, but the Melbourne Renegades still secured a five-wicket BBL derby win at the MCG.
The Melbourne Renegades have snatched a rare BBL derby win, stumbling to a five-wicket victory against the COVID-19 ravaged Melbourne Stars at the MCG.
Having to call-up club cricketers as they attempt to push on without 12 squad players, the Stars were eyeing off an extraordinary upset as the Renegades lost 4-18 on Monday night.
But the inexperienced pair of Mackenzie Harvey (23no) and James Seymour (17no) steered the Renegades past the Stars' paltry total of 126 with 12 balls to spare.
The Renegades' second win of the tournament - and just their seventh victory in 21 games against the Stars - came with plenty of anxious moments.
Melbourne's red team were cruising at 1-73 from just nine overs with ace duo Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh at the crease.
But Finch's important innings of 50 ended in controversy after the video umpire deemed Haris Rauf completed a catch despite footage possibly indicating the Pakistani quick touched the boundary rope with his foot.
In a shining light for the Stars, young Pakistani fast bowler Ahmed Daniyal dismissed Marsh for a wicket on his BBL debut.
Renegades captain Nic Maddinson proved to be the unlikely destroyer with the ball to set the tone for the contest.
Maddinson claimed career-best figures of 3-20 after entering the match having taken just nine wickets from 127 T20 games.
The 30-year-old knocked over the Stars' unheralded top-three of Justin Avendano, Travis Dean and Charlie Wakim to leave captain Glenn Maxwell with all the work to do.
But Maxwell, who was one of just four players remaining from his team's game seven days ago, was unable to pull the Stars out of a hole and was out for seven.
One of the few recognised Stars players available, Maxwell joked to Renegades wicketkeeper Sam Harper that "he may have COVID" so to stay away.
Star quick Kane Richardson (3-24) followed up Maddinson's good work to strike fear through the Stars' tail.
"It's nice to get the job done, but it didn't quite feel right, to be honest," Richardson said.
"I think it's a bit disappointing, especially for the Stars, they're a strong team and you want to see the best cricket you possibly can."
Already without 10 squad members for Sunday's loss against the Perth Scorchers, English opener Joe Clarke and top-up player Tom Rogers were ruled out of the derby after recording positive COVID-19 tests.
Internationals such as Marcus Stoinis and Adam Zampa have been replaced by cricketers who were not even dreaming of a BBL game just a few days ago.
"The beauty of guys like (Stars coaches) Ben Rohrer and Dave Hussey, they know what's going on at about every grade club in the state," Cartwright said.
"They knew exactly what made those (fill-in) guys tick and what their go-tos are, so we knew what their strengths were and how they were going to play."
Renegades fast bowler James Pattinson was also unable to take to the field as he awaits his result from a coronavirus test taken four days ago.
