Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Renegades BBL 2025 Recap

Big Bash LeagueResult

Hobart Hurricanes

163/6

Bellerive Oval · Monday, 29 December 2025

Hobart Hurricanes won by 4 wicketsPlayer of the match: NT Ellis

Match preview

Hurricanes edge Renegades by 4 wickets at Bellerive Oval

Match overview

Hobart Hurricanes beat Melbourne Renegades by 4 wickets at Bellerive Oval on 29 December 2025 in a Big Bash League T20 fixture. Melbourne posted 162/9 after a bright powerplay start, but Hobart chased it down with their death overs batting proving decisive. NT Ellis was named Player of the Match. Hobart now lead the all-time head-to-head with Melbourne at 14 wins from 23 BBL meetings, and this result extended their recent dominance to four wins from the last five encounters.

Melbourne Renegades looked threatening early, putting on 67 runs in the powerplay for the loss of just 2 wickets. That is well above Bellerive Oval's average powerplay figure of 42 runs across 112 T20 matches played at the ground. The middle overs brought 64 more runs but cost 3 wickets, and the final phase unravelled. Melbourne's death-overs batting returned only 31 runs from 4 dismissals, a collapse that left the total at 162/9 rather than something closer to the venue's first-innings average of 194.

Hobart's chase was never comfortable through the middle. They posted 42 runs in the powerplay, losing 1 wicket, then navigated a tricky middle stretch of 74 runs but at the cost of 4 wickets. Going into the death at 116/5 or thereabouts, the match was still in the balance. From there, the Hurricanes scored 47 runs with only 1 further dismissal, finishing at 163/6. Ellis's involvement in that finish earned him the match award.

Venue and conditions

Bellerive Oval has hosted 112 T20 matches and carries a strong bias towards sides batting first. The average first-innings score is 194, while the average second-innings score drops to 171. Chasing teams win here only 44% of the time, meaning Hobart's successful chase was against the statistical grain of this venue.

The powerplay average of 42 runs gives context to Melbourne's 67 in that phase. Any side scoring substantially above that figure in the first six overs will typically set a total the ground's history says is difficult to chase. The death-overs average at Bellerive is 36 runs, so Melbourne's 31 in that phase was actually below par, which partially explains why the total fell short of what the powerplay had set up. Toss-winning sides at this ground choose to field 54% of the time, which aligns with Hobart's decision on the night.

For evening BBL matches in Hobart, overhead conditions tend to stay mild enough that the pitch does most of the talking. Bellerive's drop-in pitches generally reward pace bowling early when there is freshness in the surface, and spin can come into play through the middle overs as the game wears on.

How to watch

Big Bash League matches are available in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket. Subscribers can stream live via Sky Go, and day passes are available through NOW TV for those without a full subscription. Given the time difference between the UK and Australia, BBL evening fixtures in Hobart typically kick off around midnight UK time, so most domestic fans will be catching up on highlights or the replay the following morning.

Sky Sports' BBL coverage generally includes pre-match analysis and post-match review shows alongside the live broadcast. The Sky Sports app carries on-demand replays of full matches, which is the most practical option for UK viewers who cannot watch live.

Recent form

Melbourne Renegades arrive at this result having lost four of their last five BBL matches in 2025. Their two wins in that sequence both came against Brisbane Heat, but defeats to Hobart Hurricanes (twice) and Melbourne Stars point to a side struggling for consistency across the competition. Another loss to Hobart deepens that concern as the BBL season progresses toward its finals phase.

Hobart Hurricanes come into this result with four wins from their last five matches. Their only blemish in that run was a defeat to Melbourne Stars. Wins over Perth Scorchers, Sydney Thunder (twice), and now Melbourne Renegades paint a picture of a team with genuine finals ambitions. Back-to-back wins over the Renegades this season consolidates that position and reinforces their hold on this particular rivalry.

Talking points

What to look out for

5 angles

Headline angle

Hurricanes complete a difficult chase at home

Chasing 163, Hobart Hurricanes reached their target for the loss of 6 wickets. Bellerive Oval's chase success rate sits at just 44% across 112 matches, making this a harder win than the margin might suggest. Hobart's death-overs execution was decisive: 47 runs from the final phase with only 1 wicket lost.

Angle 02

Renegades powerplay gave them a platform they couldn't hold

Melbourne Renegades posted 67 runs for 2 wickets in the powerplay, well above Bellerive Oval's average powerplay return of 42 runs. They could not sustain that momentum, losing 4 wickets for 31 runs in the death overs and finishing on 162/9.

Angle 03

NT Ellis the difference as Player of the Match

NT Ellis was awarded Player of the Match, underlining his contribution with bat or ball in a match Hobart won with little to spare. His performance came in a BBL fixture where Hobart held a 14–9 overall head-to-head advantage over Melbourne Renegades entering the evening.

Angle 04

Hobart's middle overs told the story of the chase

The Hurricanes scored 74 runs in the middle phase but lost 4 wickets, keeping the match in the balance through overs 7 to 16. The calm finish, 47 from the death with just 1 dismissal, is what separated the two sides.

Angle 05

Renegades' BBL season looking increasingly difficult

Melbourne Renegades have now lost four of their last five BBL matches in 2025, with both defeats to Hobart in this run of form. Back-to-back losses to the Hurricanes this season will deepen concerns about their ability to qualify for the finals.

Context

Key insights

Historical · Not official

Venue par

194

Avg 1st innings score at Bellerive Oval

112 matches · 2002–2025

Chase success

46%

Chases completed successfully at Bellerive Oval

112 matches · 2002–2025

Powerplay

44/1.3

Average runs/wickets in overs 1–6 at Bellerive Oval

Historical aggregates derived from Cricsheet (cricsheet.org) under ODC-BY licence. 2001/02–2026 IPL seasons. For editorial context only — not official live match data, not a forecast, and not betting advice. Projections and comparisons above are frozen from the live state and may not match final statistics.

The rivalry

Who could decide it

Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Renegades have met 23 times in the BBL, with Hobart holding a clear advantage: 14 wins to Melbourne's 9. The Hurricanes have been particularly dominant in recent meetings, winning four of the last five encounters. Hobart have won twice at Bellerive Oval in that last-five sequence, including this fixture.

Recent meetings

Last 5

2025: Hobart Hurricanes won by 7 wickets at GMHBA Stadium
2025: Hobart Hurricanes won by 4 wickets at Bellerive Oval
2024: Melbourne Renegades won by 6 wickets at GMHBA Stadium
2024: Hobart Hurricanes won by 6 wickets at Docklands
2023: Hobart Hurricanes won by 6 wickets at Bellerive Oval

Key player · Hobart Hurricanes

NT Ellis

Ellis was named Player of the Match after Hobart's 4-wicket win over Melbourne Renegades. His contribution was central to a chase completed under pressure at a venue where only 44% of sides successfully chase.

Melbourne Renegades

PM Siddle

A senior presence in the Renegades attack at Bellerive Oval, Siddle brings experience to a bowling group that needed wickets in the powerplay and middle overs. His ability to hold an end matters when chasing sides settle in.

Career stats →

Melbourne Renegades

SE Marsh

Marsh is one of the more experienced middle-order options in the Renegades line-up. His presence becomes critical when a side has built a platform in the powerplay and needs to convert it through overs 7 to 15.

Career stats →

Hobart Hurricanes

AC Gilchrist

A destructive top-order option with the capacity to turn a match in a short burst, Gilchrist's involvement at the top of the Hurricanes chase would have shaped whether Hobart got off to the kind of start they needed at Bellerive.

Career stats →

Angles to watch

Analytical angles worth tracking

Observations from the venue data, recent form and historical trends. Editorial context, not betting advice.

Bellerive Oval's chase success rate of 44% across 112 matches historically favours the batting-first side, which may be worth considering in outright result markets at this venue.
Hobart's death-overs batting (47 runs, 1 wicket in this match) suggests top-performer markets in the final phase could be more relevant than powerplay-focused lines.
With Melbourne Renegades losing four of their last five, form-based markets for individual player performances across both sides may offer more editorial differentiation than outright lines.
NT Ellis's Player of the Match award suggests all-rounder markets could be worth monitoring in future Hurricanes fixtures at Bellerive Oval.

For editorial context only. Not a forecast and not betting advice. 18+ only, please gamble responsibly.

Questions

Frequently asked

Hobart Hurricanes won by 4 wickets at Bellerive Oval. Chasing a target of 163, they reached 163/6 to secure the result. NT Ellis was named Player of the Match.

Melbourne Renegades posted 162/9 from their 20 overs. They scored 67 runs in the powerplay but managed only 31 from the death overs, losing 4 wickets in that final phase.

Hobart Hurricanes lead the head-to-head with 14 wins from 23 BBL meetings, against Melbourne Renegades' 9 wins. Hobart have won four of the last five encounters between the sides.

Big Bash League matches are broadcast in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket. Subscribers can also stream via Sky Go or pick up a day pass through NOW TV. Coverage typically begins around midnight UK time for Australian evening fixtures.

Across 112 T20 matches at Bellerive Oval, the average first-innings score is 194 runs. The average powerplay return is 42 runs, and chasing sides win approximately 44% of the time.

Hobart Hurricanes won the toss and chose to field first. Melbourne Renegades batted, posting 162/9, and Hobart then chased the target down for the loss of 6 wickets.

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