Renegades thrash Warne's Stars in Big Bash opener

Twenty20 Big Bash favourites the Melbourne Stars, led by Shane Warne, were thrashed by eight wickets by the Melbourne Renegades in the season-opener at Etihad Stadium last night.

The highlight was Renegades skipper Aaron Finch's unbeaten 111 off just 65 balls to steer his side home with 10 balls to spare.

Leg-spin great Warne conceded 41 from his two overs after stating this week he felt, at the age of 43, he could still baffle the English if selected for next year's Ashes series.
 
England international Luke Wright top-scored with 53 for the Stars, who reached 167-5 from their 20 overs.
 
The Renegades replied with 168-2 with Ben Rohrer (34 not out) lending solid support to Finch, who blasted 12 fours and four sixes.
 
Earlier, David Hussey paced the Stars' innings neatly at No 4 and was out in the last over for 42.

Test cricket's leading wicket-taker, Muttiah Muralidaran, conceded 28 in his four over for the Renegades.
 
The Sri Lankan spin wizard was taunted by the crowd who chanted "no-ball" during his opening over.
 
Spinner Aaron O'Brien took 2-27 for the Renegades.
 
Ex-Renegade Brad Hodge scored 28 before being run-out, becoming the first BBL player to fall victim to the new design of bails which flash red on impact.
 
While it was a home game for the Renegades, the applause was deafening for Warne when the retired Test great brought himself on to bowl.

But the home fans soon got behind their skipper Finch who hit Warne for two successive sixes in his 19-run opening over.
 
Warne dropped a simple catch at mid-wicket when Faf du Plessis was on 13, although it wasn't costly as the South Africa international fell in the following over for 14.
 
Rohrer feasted on Warne's bowling with two sixes in the 14th over, which cost 22 runs.