A man-of-the-match performance from Commonwealth Bank Bushranger David Hussey has seen the Melbourne Stars come out on top against the Melbourne Renegades at the MCG in the first ever Melbourne Derby in the KFC T20 Big Bash League.

Batting first in front of a 40,000-plus strong crowd, the Stars got off to a flyer with Bushrangers hard hitting batsman Rob Quiney (14 from 13) slapping former Bushranger quick Shane Harwood back over his head for six in the second over.

Following the loss of three quick wickets, Hussey provided some much needed backbone to the Stars' innings scoring a vital 51 runs from 42 deliveries with four boundaries and a six.

The knock moves the 34-year-old into fourth on the BBL run scorers' table with 194 runs at an average of 38.80.

A blistering cameo in the final overs from Bushrangers keeper-batsman Matthew Wade helped push the Stars' total to 5-167 at the completion of their 20 overs.

Wade, who has already played two T20 internationals for Australia, struck three towering sixes to finish unbeaten on 32 from just 15 deliveries.

Needing 8.35 runs per over for victory, the Renegades' innings got off to a sketchy start losing Bushrangers opening pair Aaron Finch (one from three) and Brad Hodge (10 from 11) either side of a brief rain delay which reduced the innings to 19 overs.

Hodge falling at the hands of Bushrangers teammates Hussey and Wade.

With rain falling and the result looking more and more likely to be decided via the Duckworth-Lewis method, Bushrangers all-rounder Glenn Maxwell (28 from 24) tried to lift the Renegades' score, striking two fours from his first three deliveries after the resumption of play.

However, the rain would prove too much for the match to continue with the covers again being called for in the ninth over.

With rain continuing to fall the match was called off and the Stars declared 11-run victors via the D/L method.

The win lifts the Stars to fifth on the BBL ladder, two spots ahead of the Renegades, with only net run rate separating the pair.

The Stars, who travel to Hobart tonight to take on the first placed Hurricanes, may look to bolster their top order with several squad members showing superb form in Premier Cricket at the weekend.

Bushranger young-guns Peter Handscomb and Alex Keath have put their names up for selection with the former scoring his second Premier ton for St Kilda this year with 146 and the latter helping Melbourne pick up a bonus point with an unbeaten 68.

The Renegades will play host to bottom-of-the-table Brisbane Heat at Etihad Stadium on Thursday in what looms as a must win clash.

They may also look to Bushranger Michael Hill to provide some stability in their middle order.

Hill, who is returning from ankle surgery, smashed a quick-fire 74 from 60 deliveries for Melbourne at the weekend.

Both teams are still in finals contention but will need wins from their final two games to ensure a semi-final berth, with the BBL semi-finals commencing on Saturday, January 21.

09 JANUARY, 2012 Andrew McCormack