THE EDGE: The Edge previews Melbourne Renegades v Melbourne Stars with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
Melbourne Renegades v Melbourne Stars
MATCH OVERVIEW:
It’s Melbourne Derby time at the Big Bash on BETDAQ Betting Exchange as the Renegades host the Stars on Saturday! Unfortunately for both sets of fans in Melbourne, it hasn’t been a good run for either side – they both finished in the bottom three last season. The Stats have been hanging around the bottom three for a few years now, and although the Renegades did finish rock bottom in 2021/22, at least they bounced back into third the season after. The Renegades need to win here to stay in the playoff mix, while for the Stars the season is already as good as over. They sit rock bottom with only one win from their six games!
That win did come in their last game, so at least they arrive into this clash with a bit of confidence. The win did come against Brisbane Heat however, who have been reasonably weak this season. I wouldn’t be getting carried away – Marcus Stoinis batted very well in the middle order with Dan Lawrence as everyone else scored less than ten. You always have the feeling with the Stars though that if their two/three key batters don’t fire then they don’t win. They effectively need a match winning knock from Ben Duckett, Marcus Stoinis or Glenn Maxwell. Obviously they all have the talent to do that, but it’s hardly a good situation to rely on two/three players all the time.
The Renegades have played one game less, and they haven’t been playing fantastic cricket. Two wins from five games is hardly a great return – as I said above, you feel like they need to win here to have an outside chance at the playoffs. On paper, the Renegades batting looks quite weak, and you can see why they’ve struggled this season. We might have two average sides here, but we should have a fascinating game.
WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:
Although the Renegades are the home side here, the Stars actually have home advantage with the game at the MCG. The sides meet again very soon, again at the MCG. It’s just the way the fixture list as worked out – to be honest Cricket Australia have went to a lot of out grounds in recent years so “home advantage” hasn’t carried the same weight as at the start of the Big Bash. This is the second game here this season – in mid-December the Stars posted 162/6 and it was chased down with nearly two overs spare. We’ve since had the Boxing Day Test on a very flat wicket here – India should have claimed a draw bar the final session collapse. Obviously we have a big outfield here, but I would expect good batting conditions.
RECOMMENDED BET:
It’s hard to be confident on either side here, and this is definitely a game for small stakes in my opinion. I don’t like either sides batting line-up to be honest, but on balance I do feel that the Stars have more match winners than the Renegades. From that point of view, it’s not a surprise to see the Stars as marginal favourites. I would rate the bowling on both sides as very similar – it was very positive to see Stoinis in good touch in the last game for the Stars and if Maxwell can come to the party the Stars can get the win here. Once again though, it’s hard to fully trust either side here – however the Stars offer marginal value at 1.94 in my opinion given their batting talent on paper.
The Edge Says:
One point win Melbourne Stars to beat Melbourne Renegades at 1.94 with https://betdaq.biz/SydStr
View the market here -> https://betdaq.biz/StaRne
IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:
I would expect reasonably good batting conditions here, but after the Boxing Day Test match it’s a good idea to check what conditions are like in the first three overs before forming a set in-running strategy. I would be keen to take on the Renegades batting if we didn’t have a very flat wicket – but I do feel the best play here might be supporting the Stars middle order. The wicket here looked very flat in the Boxing Day Test, and we could have a high scoring game here!
