Match overview
Hobart Hurricanes defeated Melbourne Stars by 3 runs at Bellerive Oval on 21 January 2026 in a BBL T20 that produced far fewer runs than this ground typically yields. Hobart set 115 from their 20 overs, finishing on 114/5, while Melbourne's chase unravelled in the middle overs despite a brisk powerplay. The Stars ended on 81/4, falling 33 runs short. BJ Webster took the Player of the Match award for his contribution to Hobart's total. It was a result that trimmed Melbourne Stars' head-to-head lead over the Hurricanes to 15 wins from 24 meetings.
The match turned in overs 7 to 16. Melbourne had scored 59 from their powerplay, three more than Hobart managed, and briefly looked the more likely winners. Three early wickets, however, had already thinned the batting order, and the Stars could manage only 22 runs in the middle phase for the loss of one more wicket. That left too much to do in the final stage and Hobart held on.
Venue and conditions
Bellerive Oval has hosted 112 T20 matches and carries an average first-innings score of 194, with chasing sides averaging 171. Both figures dwarf what was produced on 21 January, suggesting conditions were more bowler-friendly than the ground's long-term numbers imply. The average powerplay score at the venue is 42 runs, so both sides' powerplay totals of 58 and 59 runs respectively were above the norm, making the subsequent middle-overs collapses all the more striking.
Toss trends at Bellerive favour fielding first: 54 per cent of toss winners elect to do so, and Melbourne followed that pattern here. Despite the historical logic, the venue's chase success rate sits at only 44 per cent across its 112 T20 matches. Chasing sides here have often found that early momentum is deceptive if the middle overs do not sustain it.
How to watch
UK viewers can catch BBL cricket live on Sky Sports Cricket. Streaming is available through Sky Go for existing subscribers, or via a NOW TV day or month pass for those without a full Sky package. Australian evening fixtures typically begin between 08:00 and 10:00 GMT, so early risers in the UK get the live action, with highlights available through Sky Sports on demand for those who cannot manage the start time.
Recent form
Hobart went into this match having won two of their previous five BBL fixtures in 2026, with victories over Adelaide Strikers and Sydney Thunder offset by defeats to Brisbane Heat and Perth Scorchers, plus one no-result against Sydney Sixers. Their home form at Bellerive has been a more reliable foundation than their results on the road.
Melbourne Stars arrived having won two and lost three of their last five. They beat Adelaide Strikers and Melbourne Renegades but lost to Perth Scorchers, Sydney Sixers and Renegades in their most recent run of games. The Stars' 15-9 head-to-head advantage over the Hurricanes reflects a broader edge across venues, but at Bellerive specifically, Hobart have now won two of the last three meetings. The next time these sides face each other, that home-ground dynamic is likely to be the first thing both squads account for.
