Glenn Maxwell has returned to form and guided Melbourne Stars to a crucial Big Bash League derby win over the Renegades.
The Stars won by six wickets in 14.3 overs under the roof of the Marvel Stadium on Thursday night as Maxwell smashed an unbeaten 68 off 45 balls.
This raised the Stars higher on the ladder to fifth from the bottom and put them back in the Final Hunt with three games remaining, while the Renegades are last and in danger of their third consecutive wooden spoon.
Maxwell was able to score only 30 runs in his last five BBL innings and was sidelined even after contracting COVID-19.
Maxwell took over the captaincy against the Renegades and led from the front after a quiet comeback losing to the Perth Scorchers on Tuesday.
It was also a big win for the Stars, who were decimated by COVID-19 and lost to the Renegades earlier this month, when they were forced to field a sensible team.
Maxwell said he had "ripened" by the end of Thursday's match, in the wake of his illness.
"There were a lot of emotions - we've had a really tough time in the last two weeks," Maxwell said.
"We still think we have a chance to play in these finals and still have a big say in winning this trophy.
"We hope we can capture the trophy at the end of the tournament.
"I'm so ripe, last week definitely got it out of me."
After winning the bat flip, the Renegades again struggled with the bat and scored only 7–122 runs.
The Stars lost two quick wickets but reached 4-123 and Maxwell won with his eighth boundary.
It was Maxwell's 18th BBL fifty and also a six in his innings.
In his last BBL game this season before returning to Pakistan, opener Haris Rauf set the tone for the Stars.
The paceman took two wickets in the second over of the innings and then took a catch as the Renegades were reduced to 3-25.
Rauf, who has been recalled by his Pakistan Super League side Lahore Qalandars, had to leave the field for a while due to leg pain.
But he returned and bowled his over taking 2-28.
A 51-run stand between Jake Fraser-McGurk and Aaron Finch stabilized the Renegades' innings, but they were unable to make a late charge.
Fraser-McGuirk scored 32 and Finch took a dirty act on himself when Brody Couch dismissed him for 45 in the second-last over.
Finch bats at No, a rare appearance up the order for him
His dismissal ended any hope of the Renegades posting a fair score.
He needed a massive effort on the field and there was a glimmer of hope when he reduced the Stars to 2-15 in the second over.
But Maxwell was autocratic and his luck was sealed when the Renegades could not sack him.
The Stars could not consider Marcus Stoinis (back) and Nathan Coulter-Nile (hamstrings) for the match.