Last Updated on 6 years by Charbel Coorey
BBL08 Final: Melbourne Renegades vs Melbourne Stars Preview Dream11. MLR vs MLS Preview Dream11 Prediction
A long, sometimes lacking BBL08 tournament has a fine ending. Melbourne Derby bragging rights is always at stake, but this time, it means so much more, with a very first BBL Title awaiting both sides.
Melbourne Renegades are coming off an incredible Semi Final win over Sydney Sixers, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. Dan Christian was absolutely outstanding in the crunchiest of crunch moments, leading the Renegades to their first ever BBL Final. However, their bowling, which is their strength, was off colour, and they have lost both matches to the Stars in BBL08. Can they reverse the trend and win the game that counts the most?
Melbourne Stars have lived up to their name in their two most recent matches. A week ago, they were in serious danger of missing the Semi Finals after being absolutely thrashed by Brisbane Heat. Since then, they delivered against Sydney Sixers in a do-or-die clash and overcame top-of-the-table Hobart Hurricanes in an excellent Semi Final performance. Will it be they who pick up their first Title?
Key to a Melbourne Renegades win
The Renegades did pretty well to restrict Sydney Sixers to 180 after 200+ looked likely, but they will need a more well-rounded bowling display against the Stars. The Renegades struggled to arrest a quick Sixers’ start on Friday night, and if they are unable to do so in the Final, the Stars have the resources in the middle order to hurt them. Can Kane Richardson, the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, have a better night than the Semi Final? Will Chris Tremain display the form he showed in his first couple of games in his BBL08 campaign? If these two can fire in the powerplay overs, including capturing the big wicket of Marcus Stoinis, it sets things up beautifully for the likes of Cameron Boyce, Daniel Christian and Harry Gurney to target Glenn Maxwell and the Stars middle order.
Also, it would have been really encouraging for the Renegades that they delivered with the bat in a pressure game. Their batting has been their weaker point in BBL08, and if the top order can fire against a good Stars attack, a first BBL Title could very well await. Marcus Harris hasn’t delivered in this tournament so far, but his teammates have given him the chance to deliver in the Final. Can he do it? Will Aaron Finch find more fluency, and can Sam Harper produce the kind of whirlwind knock seen in the Semi Final to put the pressure on the Stars bowlers? With a middle order including the experienced Cameron White and Dan Christian, a strong platform at the top, unlike what the Hurricanes showed against the Stars, is crucial.
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Key to a Melbourne Stars win
Daniel Worrall’s ability to get the ball moving in the early overs was a key talking point ahead of the Hurricanes’ game. He was superb, and will be key again against a Renegades side that has struggled with the bat at times in BBL08. Worrall, along with Jackson Bird (if picked) have a huge opportunity to set the match up, as they did against the Sixers, with the wristspinners, Marcus Stoinis and Dwayne Bravo excellent change bowlers. Can the Stars restrict the Renegades from the outset and stifle them further with regular wickets?
Also, Glenn Maxwell has come up with the goods as the Stars needed it. He was man of the match in a brilliant performance against the Sixers, and then got his side home in a measured effort in the run chase against the Hurricanes. He and Marcus Stoinis can cause significant damage at the top of the order, but who else will deliver? Can the out-of-form Ben Dunk also help provide a strong start? Will Nic Maddinson build on his little cameo from the last match and turn it into something more substantial here? With Peter Handscomb and Seb Gotch showing good form in the chase vs Hurricanes, the Stars have a top six that challenge the Renegades. If they can outplay the Renegades top six, it will go a long way to victory.
Possible Playing 11
Melbourne Renegades will go in with the same squad as their Semi Final match. They should stick with the same XI, too.
Melbourne Renegades: 1. Marcus Harris, 2. Aaron Finch (c), 3. Sam Harper (wk), 4. Cameron White, 5. Tom Cooper, 6. Dan Christian, 7. Mackenzie Harvey, 8. Cameron Boyce, 9. Kane Richardson, 10. Chris Tremain, 11. Harry Gurney
For Melbourne Stars, Jackson Coleman comes into the squad for Nick Larkin. However, they will also likely stick with the same XI as their Semi Final, or possibly bring back Jackson Bird.
Melbourne Stars: 1. Ben Dunk, 2. Marcus Stoinis, 3. Peter Handscomb (wk), 4. Glenn Maxwell (c), 5. Nic Maddinson, 6. Seb Gotch, 7. Evan Gulbis 8. Dwayne Bravo, 9. Adam Zampa, 10. Sandeep Lamichhane, 11. Daniel Worrall.
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Dream11 Prediction
Option 1:
Option 2:
Stats and Facts
- Melbourne Stars have won nine of the last 11 matches against Melbourne Renegades.
- Neither side has won a BBL Title.
- This is Melbourne Stars’ second BBL Final. For the Renegades, this is their first.
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Match Prediction
This promises to be a good final.
Both sides have key players that can turn the game in their favour. However, the Stars have looked brilliant in two high-pressure games, and I will pick them to take out the title.
Thanks for reading!
BBL08 Final: Melbourne Renegades vs Melbourne Stars Preview Dream11. MLR vs MLS Preview Dream11 Prediction
