In a heart-stopping finish that will be etched into Big Bash League folklore, Will Sutherland launched two colossal sixes in the final over to power the Melbourne Renegades to a dramatic four-wicket victory over the Melbourne Stars. The epic Melbourne derby unfolded on Sunday night in front of a massive crowd of 68,124 fans at the MCG, the third-largest attendance in the BBL's 15-season history.
Brown Blitz Sets the Stage for Dramatic Collapse
The Renegades' chase of 173 was built on the back of a powerful innings from opener Josh Brown. The hard-hitting batsman top-scored with a brilliant 84 runs from just 48 deliveries, forming a crucial triple-figure partnership with Mohammad Rizwan (41 off 38). At 1-127 after 14 overs, the Renegades appeared to be cruising towards a comfortable win.
However, the match turned on its head as the Stars mounted a fierce fightback. The dismissal of Brown by leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson (1-20) triggered a stunning collapse, with the Renegades losing 5 wickets for just 34 runs in less than five overs. Haris Rauf (2-44) and Peter Siddle (2-39) struck vital blows, setting up a tense finale where the Renegades needed 13 runs from the last six balls.
Sutherland Seals Dream Victory in Final Over Drama
With the game on the line, all-rounder Will Sutherland strode to the crease to face Stars captain Marcus Stoinis. After a costly blunder by Tom Curran, who dropped Ollie Peake and conceded two overthrows in the penultimate over, the stage was set for a grandstand finish.
Sutherland delivered under immense pressure, smashing Stoinis for two enormous sixes to seal an unforgettable win with just one ball to spare. He finished 19 not out from only seven balls. "It was a bit of a dream come true as a Melbourne boy," an elated Sutherland said after the match. "I've been at the Renegades for a long time and this was a lot of fun."
Record Crowd Witnesses Historic Rivalry
The victory was savoured in front of a sea of fans, with the attendance figure of 68,124 underscoring the huge popularity of the Melbourne derby. This fixture now accounts for the top four attendances in BBL history, headlined by the record 80,883 spectators who attended a clash in January 2016.
"Huge night," Sutherland remarked. "I'm happy for Victorian cricket that this many people are showing up to the derby and it's always nice to beat these guys. It's a real rivalry." The win ended a three-match losing streak for the Renegades, lifting them to a 2-3 season record, while the Stars (4-2) have now lost two consecutive matches after starting the season with four wins.
Earlier, the Stars had posted 9-172 after being sent in to bat, with their innings hampered by regular wickets. Veteran match-winner Glenn Maxwell fell cheaply for just one run. Late fireworks from Tom Curran (38 off 18) and Campbell Kellaway (33 off 27) helped them to a competitive total. Renegades seamer Gurinder Sandhu was the chief destroyer with 4-41, well-supported by spinners Callum Stow (2-24) and Hassan Khan (1-26).
Despite the loss, Stars bowler Mitchell Swepson praised his team's grit. "It was great to see the fight... we put up a really good fight and kept coming at them," he said. For the victorious Renegades, Sutherland acknowledged room for improvement but celebrated a vital win. "It's good to have takeaways and still win the game," he concluded.
