BBL Melbourne derby betting – Renegades vs. Stars top bat tips

BBL|06 Match 12 – Sunday, 1 January, 2017 from 6:10pm AEDST, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne.

ONE of the hottest matches of the Big Bash League season to date kicks off the New Year as the two Melbourne sides lock horns at the home of cricket in Australia, the MCG.

After a successful start to the season, the Melbourne Stars ($4) surged to the top of the Sportsbet.com.au title market.

Their opening win was as impressive as you will see, chasing down 191 runs to record a famous victory away from home against the Hobart Hurricanes.

The ease in which the Stars recorded the victory was even more startling given that their key batting linchpin, Kevin Pietersen, was unavailable due to family commitments in England.

The Melbourne Renegades have one win and one loss to start the season, but the men in red will be hamstrung by the soft tissue injury to Dwayne Bravo.

The West Indian all-rounder confirmed on Friday that he will miss the remainder of the Big Bash Season after sustaining a hamstring injury fielding a ball in the outfield.

“Unfortunately my Big Bash season is over which is very disappointing,” Bravo said.

“I’ll now have surgery and the rehabilitation to get me fit and playing at my best again. I want to thank all the Renegades fans for their support for me and I hope to see them again next season.”

Subsequently Sportsbet.com.au moved the ‘gades out to the fourth line of betting at the $6 quote.

The Stars pick up an A-grade superstar while the Rengades lose their marquee man for the rest of the tournament. It adds an extra dimension to what could be the most important Melbourne Derby of all-time.

Glenn Maxwell batting markets

We doubt there is a cleaner striker of the ball in world cricket than Glenn Maxwell, who on his day can singlehandedly dismantle a bowling attack.

The man they call the ‘Big Show’ was at his brilliant best in his side’s win against the Hurricanes, blasting 58 runs from 24 balls. Had the Hurricanes posted a higher total, or had a Stars’ wicket fallen earlier in the innings Maxwell would have been a lock for most runs that night.

Confidence plays a huge part in Maxwell’s offensive game, and there is no better tonic than a quick-fire half century at a strike rate of 200. If the Stars bat first you can almost guarantee the fireworks will be on display from the Big Show.

Man of the match – $10 at Sportsbet.com.au

Top match batsman – $5 at Sportsbet.com.au

Top Stars run-scorer – $5 at Sportsbet.com.au

Glenn Maxwell total runs over 25.5 – $1.88 at CrownBet.com.au

Stars vs. Renegades match tips

Whichever way you look at the opening set of fixtures for both Melbourne sides, the green team is trending up while the red team is trending down.

Not only did the Renegades lose a match that they should have won on Thursday night against the Scorchers at home, to and injury to insult arguably their most vital player Dwayne Bravo will be out for the remainder of BBL|06.

Contrast those fortunes to that of the Stars.

The Green Machine recorded a terrific win from their sole BBL fixture thus far, and get to welcome back Englishman Kevin Pietersen into the fold.

The Stars are justified title favourites after their opening match. Their batting line up is amongst the best in the league and their bowling attack is multifaceted.

The Scorchers showed on Thursday night that if you can nullify the influence of the Renegades’ spinners you can exploit the remainder of the bowling attack, which looks depleted while Peter Siddle and James Pattinson are sitting on the sidelines.

The Melbourne Stars look a class above their cross-town rivals in the early parts of BBL|06 given the injuries the Renegades have, and we think it will be a green-bathed MCG come the end of New Year’s Day.

Match result: Melbourne Stars to win ($1.73 at Sportsbet.com.au)

Highest opening partnership: Melbourne Stars ($2.03 at Sportsbet.com.au)