Match overview
Melbourne Stars beat Adelaide Strikers by 6 wickets at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 13 January 2026. The match was effectively decided in the first six overs of Adelaide's innings: the Strikers lost 4 wickets for 21 runs in the powerplay and never found a way back. Bowled out for 83 in total, they set a target the Stars reached without ever looking comfortable themselves. Melbourne finished on 86 for 5, with TK Curran named Player of the Match for his contribution throughout. It was a win, but far from a polished one.
The low-scoring nature of the game stood out against the MCG's broader T20 history. Across 155 matches at the ground, the average first-innings score is 205 and the average second-innings score is 190. This fixture produced a combined 169 runs. Adelaide's batting collapse skewed the entire contest, leaving Melbourne chasing a total that removed most of the pressure from their own fragile-looking innings.
For Adelaide, the result extends a difficult run. They have won just 2 of their last 5 matches this BBL season, with losses to Perth Scorchers (twice), Hobart Hurricanes, and now Melbourne Stars. For the Stars, it consolidates their head-to-head dominance over this opponent. Melbourne have now won 12 of the 21 meetings between these sides, including four of the last five.
Venue and conditions
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is the largest stadium in Australia and one of the most storied venues in world cricket. In T20 cricket across 155 matches here, sides batting first average 205 runs, while chasing sides average 190. The ground's scale means outfield boundaries are large and scoring is not always as free as smaller venues in the competition.
The powerplay at the MCG typically produces around 35 runs on average. Adelaide managed just 21 in their powerplay before losing 4 wickets; Melbourne posted 25 in theirs for 2 wickets. Neither innings touched the venue average, which reflects either a difficult surface on the day or simply the damage done by Adelaide's early collapse lowering the pressure on Melbourne's bowlers throughout.
The toss tends to influence outcomes here. Teams winning the toss have chosen to field 54 per cent of the time across T20s at the ground, and the chase success rate sits at 56 per cent. Melbourne won the toss and elected to field; the decision followed the venue's prevailing logic and was vindicated by the result.
How to watch
Big Bash League matches are broadcast in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports Cricket. Live coverage is available through Sky Go for subscribers, and NOW TV offers day or monthly passes for those without a full Sky package. The BBL season runs through January and February, with matches typically played in the Australian evening, which translates to morning and early-afternoon kick-off times in the UK.
Highlights and clips are generally available through the BBL's own digital channels and Cricket Australia's YouTube presence for those who cannot watch live.
Recent form
Adelaide Strikers arrived at this match in poor shape. Their last five results read: loss to Perth Scorchers, loss to Hobart Hurricanes, win over Sydney Thunder, loss to Perth Scorchers, win over Brisbane Heat. Two wins from five, and neither victory came against a side currently at the top of the competition. The powerplay collapse against Melbourne was not an isolated incident; it reflects a fragility at the top of their order that has been a recurring theme.
Melbourne Stars' recent form is only marginally better on paper. They won against Melbourne Renegades in their most recent outing before this match but had lost three of the five games immediately prior, including defeats to Sydney Sixers, Melbourne Renegades, and Brisbane Heat. The win here keeps them in contention but neither side looks like a polished unit in the 2026 campaign. Adelaide will need to address the powerplay issue quickly as the competition moves into its later rounds.
