Cricket: Melbourne derby lit up by Stars

Afridi fires but Renegades lose rain-shortened BBL match by 11 runs.

Melbourne Stars prevailed over Melbourne Renegades by 11 runs in a match decided by the Duckworth-Lewis method after rain forced players off.

Renegades were precariously placed at 58 for three in 8.1 overs in pursuit of 168 when play was stopped. Glenn Maxwell had top-scored for the Renegades in their shortened innings making 28.

Earlier, Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi helped restrict the Stars to 167 for five after an eighty-run partnership between David Hussey and George Bailey had threatened to take the game away from the Renegades. Afridi finished with two for 20 and dismissed Hussey and Bailey in the space of four balls.

Hussey made 51, while Bailey scored 24. Lusty hitting by Mathew Wade (32) saw the Stars post a competitive total.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 8^th, 2012.