Glenn Maxwell's shock realisation on where the Stars went wrong

Little seems wrong when you start a run chase with a 93-run stand.

But Melbourne Stars captain Glenn Maxwell believes they were short of where they needed to be when the wickets started to fall against the Melbourne Renegades.

Chasing a modest target of 146 runs, the Stars self-destructed to lose seven batsmen for 19 runs in Sunday’s Big Bash final at Docklands.

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The final scorecard read a 13-run defeat and the bragging rights in Melbourne have gone to the Renegades.

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Ben Dunk returned to form to hit 57 runs off 45 balls, while Marcus Stoinis (39 runs off 38 balls) played a helping hand before he was the first Stars batsman to fall.

But after combining for nine runs in the first over they were behind the required run rate for the next 10 overs, six of which brought no more than five runs.

Adding 12 in the 12th over lifted the Stars ahead, only for the toll of the chase to hit as just four runs off the first five balls of a Cameron Boyce over forced Stoinis to throw his bat at a ball that went on to hit the stumps.

As Maxwell explained, the chase suddenly felt larger than 53 runs required off 42 balls – even with nine wickets remaining.

“I thought it was more the conditions (than the pressure) and probably being more aware of when we had to score runs,” he told reporters after the defeat.

“I think we batted beautifully in those first 10 overs but we probably should have gone a little harder.

“You can kill the game in a power play when you’re only chasing 145.

“We needed to go a little bit harder, but that’s all in hindsight. I know that now, but it would have been nice to know before.

“They bowled very well, they just kept themselves in the game. Unfortunately, we just couldn’t have a batter come in and do the job.

“It seemed like every time someone took a risk, they got out, but that can happen.”

All six batsmen after Stoinis – Dunk, Peter Handscomb, Maxwell, Nic Maddinson, Seb Gotch and Dwayne Bravo – were out caught as they went after the win.

Renegades almost gave up hope

On the other side of the coin, jubilant skipper Aaron Finch was about ready to pack it in before the run of dismissals arrived just in time.

“It’s very special, it’s exciting … it was an unbelievable effort by our boys to pull that off,” Finch said.

“Particularly in that last six to eight overs to get that breakthrough and then really drag that momentum back our way.

“It was probably one over away from them really breaking our hearts I think.

“They played well for the first 12 overs but you just need one opening on a wicket like that a slow, pretty low wicket to create some pressure, to create some doubt in their minds.

“To hang in the contest for the whole day … it was a great effort.”

with AAP