The 34-year-old Russell, who was not picked by West Indies selectors for the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup, signed a limited contract that makes him available for four games for the Renegades. He had been overlooked in the BBL Draft in August in part due to his limited availability and high price tag.
The Jamaican will now play matches against the Brisbane Heat on December 15 and 21, Sydney Thunder on December 18 and Hobart Hurricanes in Hobart on Christmas Eve.
Aaron Finch led a cool and commanding chase, his 63 not out leading the Renegades to 155-3 after the Heat had set a target of 155 at Docklands.
Only a win would have been enough to secure a play-off place for Darren Lehmann's side, but they failed to make the most of chances in the field, meaning the Sydney Thunder take the fifth and final spot.
With AB de Villiers (six) failing to fire after another top-order collapse, questions will likely be asked about Lehmann's future after a disappointing end to a hugely underwhelming season.
RENSHAW LEADS RESISTANCE AFTER HEAT GO OFF THE BOIL
The Heat were 1-35 after just 21 balls as they endured another miserable start after winning the bat flip.
Sam Heazlett's wild slice gave Finch an easy catch, and Ben Cutting, perhaps over-confident after four early boundaries that included two sixes off Will Sutherland (3-30), was lost lbw when teeing up for another big swing.
De Villiers went to sweep Samit Patel (1-23) only for the ball to cannon off the back leg and into the stumps, and when Chris Lynn was bowled by Nabi (1-23) for the loss of just 14, the Heat's troubles were mounting.
Renshaw and Marnus Labuschagne began the rebuilding job, the latter digging deep for 28 off 26 deliveries before Jack Wildermuth caught him trying to clear the ropes from Cameron Boyce (1-29).
Renshaw remained a beacon of resistance, his unbeaten 65 helping the Heat amass a respectable target before he was run out in the final over.
FINCH KEEPS COOL AFTER COOPER TANTRUM
Tom Cooper and Finch made an encouraging start to the chase before the former sent a delivery from Cutting (2-35) to the grateful grasp of Jack Prestwidge at deep midwicket, leaving Cooper visibly fuming as he headed back to the dugout.
The Renegades were 2-44 when Daniel Christian was caught superbly by Renshaw and, when Beau Webster was bowled full and straight by Cutting after making 14, Heat hopes were beginning to rise.
Finch, though, refused to panic. Australia's Twenty20 and ODI captain showed few signs of wilting in the Heat onslaught, with Nabi's four boundaries helping to keep the pressure off his skipper.
Prestwidge allowed a Finch drive to slide through his fingers as the Heat found their season slipping away, another mistake on the rope helping Finch bring up his half-century.
Six more over deep backward square and a drive wide of cover signalled the death knell to the Heat's play-off ambitions and gave the Renegades something to smile about at the end of a difficult season.
Chasing 165 to win at the Gabba, the Heat made a flying start and were 84-0 in the sixth over, taking full advantage of the powerplay.
However, a batting slump of bewildering proportions saw them lose 10 wickets for 36 runs to be all out for 120, with leg-spinner Cameron Boyce taking 4-15 in his four overs.
It was the worst 10-wicket collapse in Big Bash history, league officials said.
The Heat middle and lower order owed an apology to openers Sam Heazlett and Chris Lynn, who showed sizzling form. Heazlett made 56 from 37 balls, and captain Lynn was destructive as he rattled to 41 from 15 deliveries.
Marcus Harris took a fine catch on the run, just in from the ropes, to remove Lynn, who had struck three sixes in his whirlwind knock.
Brisbane still looked set to win with several overs to spare, but an hour of largely self-inflicted carnage was just getting under way.
AB de Villiers was bowled two balls later, charmed out by a fine leg break from Boyce, and when the same bowler had Matt Renshaw caught at slip from the next ball, it was the first real sign that something was stirring.
The Heat rebuilt and at 113-3, with Heazlett and Joe Burns at the crease, they looked to have seen off the storm.
It was at that point a tempest swept in, Samit Patel removing Heazlett and Jimmy Peirson with consecutive deliveries in the 13th over. Burns was run out two balls later, sent back by batting partner Ben Cutting and falling way short of his ground.
Cutting and Josh Lalor fell in the space of three balls to Dan Christian, before Boyce stepped in to complete the onslaught. Seven wickets fell for seven runs in the wild finale.
The Renegades have put up an awful title defence, losing nine in a row until finally registering a victory in their last match when scoring a Duckworth-Lewis-Stern success against the Sydney Thunder.
This was a second victory of their lamentable season, and one to savour.
Boyce said on BT Sport: "I think we were all a bit nervous after the start. That was pretty clean striking there [by Lynn and Heazlett], so it obviously needed something pretty special.
"But after the powerplay I thought we bowled pretty well as a unit. Our season hasn't gone the way we wanted it to, but we do feel we've been close in about six or seven of our games.
"It's just been one of those years. I said last week it would be nice to repay our fans a little bit.
"We've got to take a lot of momentum and confidence out of the game. They got away in those first six but we pegged them back really nicely. Hopefully we can finish the season with a couple of wins."
The Renegades earlier reached a competitive total when Mohammad Nabi and Patel lifted them from 131-6 after the 18th over to 164-6 at the end of their innings.
Beau Webster made 36 and Shaun Marsh 27, but it was Nabi's quickfire 22 and Patel's 23 from 10 balls that put pressure on Brisbane, although nobody could have envisaged the drama to come.
The 30-year-old, brought in for Renegades’ final two games of their underwhelming Big Bash League campaign, finished with two for 18 from four overs after being handed the new ball, helping to restrict Stars to 137 for eight off their 20 overs at Docklands Stadium.
Opener Shaun Marsh then struck an unbeaten 64 off 49 deliveries as Renegades chased down their target with 16 balls to spare, to post their first win in three games.
Choosing to bowl, Renegades reduced 37 for two inside the power-play, Hosein sending down the second over which cost just eight runs.
Hilton Cartwright, who top-scored with 38 from 30 balls, then held the innings together, first in a 31-run, fifth-wicket stand with Beau Webster (29) and then in a 27-run, sixth-wicket partnership with Imad Wasim (14).
Hosein knocked over Marcus Stoinis for two in the ninth over before accounting for Webster at the start of the 15th.
In reply, Marsh struck ten fours in engineering a 68-run, second-wicket partnership with Jake Fraser-McGurk (42) and a 46-run, unbroken fifth-wicket stand with Jonathan Wells (14 not out), to see Renegades comfortably home.
Hosein took 3-15 in helping restrict Brisbane Heat to 144-6 in search of Melbourne Renegades’ 166-7 from their respective 20 overs. Russell, meanwhile, smashed 35 that set up Renegades’ match-winning score.
After Brisbane Heat’s captain Jimmy Pearson won the toss and chose to field, Renegades’ openers Nic Maddinson and Sam Harper got off to a flyer scoring 65 at better than 10 runs an over before Harper was dismissed for 21 in the seventh over by James Bazley, who took 2-19 in the match.
From 65-1, Melbourne slipped to 78-4 by the 10th over before Maddinson and Russell carved out a fifth-wicket partnership of 78 before the former was dismissed by Matthew Kuhnemann in the 18th over for 87.
Hosein barely troubled the scorers and was out for one to Bazley’s final ball of the 19th that yielded only three runs as Melbourne struggled to close out on a high. Russell lost his wicket off the first ball of the 20th leaving Melbourne to limp towards their total of 166.
Kuhnemann was the best of the Brisbane bowlers with 3-32.
Hosein struck almost immediately in the Brisbane chase removing openers Josh Brown for seven and Max Brian for a duck as the Heat struggled early on 11-2 in the third over.
Russell dismissed the dangerous Sam Billings for six in the seventh over to have the Heat in further trouble at 34-3.
However, Colin Munro and Jimmy Pearson set about a recovery putting together a fourth-wicket partnership of 54 that was broken when Munro was run out for 35.
Hosein delivered another crucial blow when he bowled Pearson for 43 in the 15th over with the Heat still needing from 33 balls for victory.
Ross Whitely and Bazley added 41 for the sixth wicket but were unable to score at the required rate. Bazley was out off the final ball of the match for 19, leaving Whitely unbeaten on 28 from 18 balls.
Russell returned figures of 1-26.
The win means Melbourne Renegades is among the early leaders along with Adelaide Strikers and Sydney Thunder, each team having two points from their opening matches of the season.
The gifted all-rounder, nicknamed the 'Big Show', made an unbeaten 83 off only 45 balls at Marvel Stadium as the table-topping Stars chased down a target of 169 with eight balls to spare.
Such an outcome looked unlikely when the Stars needed 60 off the final five overs, with defending champions the Renegades scenting an opportunity to break their duck at the eighth attempt.
But Maxwell smashed his second consecutive half-century to put his side two points clear of the Sydney Sixers and give another nudge to the Australia selectors after being omitted for the ODI series in India.
Shaun Marsh earlier made a 43-ball 63 but the beleaguered Renegades lost four wickets for just 22 runs in their final four overs and a total of 168-7 was not enough.
RAUF AND COULTER-NILE STOP GADES IN THEIR TRACKS
Marsh needed a new bat after a ferocious delivery from Lance Morris snapped his blade in two, but he flanked the Gades' innings in a knock that included seven fours and two sixes.
The Gades were well placed at 146-3 through 16 overs, only to have their momentum stemmed.
Nathan Coulter-Nile (2-29) ensured Tom Cooper (15) could not build on a start and sent Sam Harper back for a golden duck, while Haris Rauf conceded just eight runs from his final two overs and accounted for Dan Christian (12).
MARVELLOUS MAXWELL SHINES FOR STARS
The Renegades made a poor start when Marcus Stoinis – the BBL's top run-scorer this season – holed out to long-off off Samit Patel for a three-ball duck.
Hilton Cartwright (35) was stopped in his tracks by Cameron Boyce and the Stars were facing a tall order to get over the finishing line.
But Maxwell kept his cool before finishing with a flourish, hitting a couple of huge sixes off Joe Mennie and Boyce before giving Richard Gleeson the treatment from consecutive deliveries in the 18th over.
A 91-metre six off Christian preceded another whack beyond the ropes over deep square leg to seal victory in style, having cleared the rope seven times in a swashbuckling innings.
The Stars first posted 144-5 off their 20 overs after being put in to bat by the Renegades.
Captain Meg Lanning, who recently retired from international cricket, top scored with 67 from 49 balls and got good support from Annabel Sutherland who hit 24 and Alice Capsey who made 23.
Sarah Coyte took 2-32 from four overs for the Renegades.
The Renegades then fell agonizingly short of their target reaching 140-6 off their 20 overs.
Harmanpreet Kaur led the way with 37 while Tammy Beaumont got 33 and Matthews got her highest score of the season with 32, just her second time going over 30.
Sutherland completed an excellent all-round game with 4-22 from her four overs to be named player of the match.
Captain Hayley Matthews hit her highest score of the season with 46 while Emma de Broughe hit 42 to help the Renegades post 169-7 from their 20 overs after the Heat won the toss and elected to field.
Nicola Hancock starred with the ball for Brisbane with 4-20 from her four overs while Grace Harris took 2-16 from two overs.
The Heat’s chase then fell agonizingly short of their target, reaching 167-9 from their 20 overs.
Grace Harris completed an excellent all-round performance with a top score of 65 but she was the only Brisbane batter to pass 20 with Jess Jonassen (17) and Nicol Hancock (17) both coming the closest.
Sarah Coyte took 3-26 from her four overs for the Renegades while Georgia Prestwidge was also among the wickets with 2-43 from four overs.
Matthews took 1-29 from her four overs, including taking the responsibility of bowling the last over and defending just six runs to seal the Renegades’ second win of the season.
The Renegades won the toss and elected to field first, a decision that proved costly as the Heat’s Australian opening pair of Grace Harris and Georgia Redmayne put on a mammoth 165 for the first wicket.
Harris scored a 50-ball 65 including six fours and a six while Redmayne remained unbeaten on 98 from 67 balls including 12 fours. Laura Harris was not out on eight alongside Redmayne as the Heat eventually posted 180-1 from their 20 overs. Matthews was expensive, conceding 40 runs from her four overs without picking up a wicket.
In their reply, the Renegades batted decently but fell short of their target in the end, finishing 159-6 from their 20 overs. Matthews was good at the top of the innings with a quick 19-ball 35 including six fours while Carly Leeson ended not out on 34 against New Zealand leg-spinner Amelia Kerr’s 2-27 from four overs.
Matthews’ Renegades are currently fifth in the eight-team table with two points from as many games.
Jess Duffin hit 54 and Harmanpreet Kaur 45 as the Renegades made 148-5 off their 20 overs after winning the toss and batting first.
Tammy Beaumont also contributed 26 at the top while skipper Matthews made a first ball duck, continuing a lean run of form so far this season with just one score over 30 in her eight innings.
The five wickets were shared among five different Strikers bowlers.
Katie Mack (24), Laura Woldvaart (28), Tahlia McGrath (26), Bridget Patterson (36) and Danielle Gibson (17) then all got starts to help the Strikers reach 149-4 off 19 overs.
Georgia Prestwidge took 2-19 from her four overs while Matthews took 1-24 from her three overs.
The Renegades will next take on the Perth Scorchers on Saturday.
The Renegades, who tasted defeat in their season opener against the Brisbane Heat, posted 167-3 from their 20 overs after being put in to bat by the Strikers.
The opening pair of Tammy Beaumont and captain Hayley Matthews put on just 19 before the West Indian went for 12 in the third over.
Beaumont and number three batter Josephine Dooley added 51 for the second wicket before Beaumont went for 30 in the ninth over.
One over later, Dooley fell for 23 to leave the Renegades 74-3.
An unbroken 93-run fourth wicket stand between Harmanpreet Kaur and Courtney Webb then propelled the Renegades to their total.
Webb led the way with a 34-ball 49* while Kaur ended 43* off 33 balls.
Zimbabwean Anesu Mushangwe was the Strikers most economical bowler with 1-21 in her four overs.
The Strikers then lasted just 14.5 overs before they were bowled out for 86.
Only skipper Talia McGrath (31), Laura Woldvaart (14) and Danielle Gibson (10) were able to reach double-figures.
Hayley Matthews (2-20 from three overs), Ella Hayward (2-18 from four overs), Georgia Wareham (2-23 from three overs) and Harmanpreet Kaur (2-11 from 1.5 overs) all played a part in the bowling effort.
The Renegades were restricted to 133-5 off their 20 overs after the Scorchers won the toss and elected to field first.
Georgia Wareham led the way with 57* off 46 balls while Tammy Beaumont hit 24 against 2-14 off four overs from Amy Edgar.
Matthews made just eight from 15 balls.
The Scorchers then needed just 11.2 overs to reach 134-0 thanks to 70* off just 36 balls from captain Sophie Devine and 47* from Beth Mooney.
The Renegades remain at the foot of the table with just one win in nine games while the Scorchers are second with 12 points from their nine encounters.
An eight-wicket trouncing in front of a crowd of 54,478 on Saturday reflected the changing fortunes of these teams since they met at nearby Docklands Stadium in the title match 11 months ago.
Michael Klinger's Renegades have gone into reverse gear this season and this was a sixth straight defeat for the defending champions, who are proving to be a shadow of the side led by Andrew McDonald last season.
The Stars have soared to the top of the table with five wins in six games for David Hussey's side, who scythed down the Renegades from 117-2 to their eventual 142-9 total.
Shaun Marsh and Beau Webster looked like lifting the Renegades to a substantial total as their third-wicket partnership reached 62.
Yet Marsh's dismissal for 43 to a brilliant boundary catch, Ben Dunk tossing the ball back to Nathan Coulter-Nile, off Sandeep Lamichhane's leg spin triggered a collapse, with Dan Christian stumped for a golden duck and Webster also soon back in the dressing room.
Marcus Stoinis anchored the Stars response with an unbeaten 68 from the top of the order to becoming the leading scorer in the competition, with skipper Glenn Maxwell plundering a snappy 40 not out as the Renegades attack sorely lacked bite.
The Renegades beat Sydney Thunder by 12 runs under the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern method in a rain-affected clash in Canberra to end their nine-match losing streak in convincing fashion.
Sam Harper (52 off 38 balls) and Shaun Marsh (47 from 34) starred with the bat as the defending champions posted 172-4, with Mohammad Nabi and captain Dan Christian's late big hitting bolstering the total.
Sydney were behind the rate when the weather closed in, returning with a revised total of 135 off 14 overs and coming up short on 122-7 despite the best efforts of Alex Ross (51 off 27), as Christian proved the Renegades' saviour with the ball.
RENEGADES MAKE A STATEMENT
With such a miserable run of form weighing on them, Melbourne needed to post a challenging target.
Opener Marsh certainly got the memo, his 34-ball knock including six fours and a maximum, while Harper also got on the front foot to boost the holders.
Still, the late cameos of Nabi (11 off 3) and Christian (21 off 12) were key, with the Renegades on a modest 125-3 at the end of the 17th over.
A strong finish saw them put up another 47 runs in the final three overs, Nabi thrashing the last ball for six.
ROSS CUTS LOOSE BEFORE CHRISTIAN FIGHTS BACK
The revised target was a tough ask for the Thunder, who initially made precious little headway in pursuit.
That was until Ross thrashed 26 balls of one Nabi over to haul his side back into the contest.
But all-rounder Christian came to the fore in the next over, in which he took two wickets – including that of danger man Ross – for just five runs.
There were no late fireworks as the Thunder, who sit sixth, finished on 122-7.
Despite Jhye Richardson (3-22) removing Aaron Finch for a golden duck, Sam Harper (73) and Beau Webster (59 not out) had put Melbourne (175-5) in a strong position to finally deliver a maiden victory at the seventh time of asking.
Yet Perth openers Josh Inglis (51) and Liam Livingstone (59) shared a century stand to leave the Scorchers firmly in charge at the halfway point of their chase.
Cameron Bancroft then hit the winning runs as Perth (178-4) got home with an over to spare.
FINCH FLOUNDERS BEFORE MARSH WINS BATTLE OF THE BROTHERS
There was no captain's innings from Finch, who skied a bouncer from Richardson to Cameron Green from his very first ball to leave Melbourne 1-1.
Richardson took the wicket of Australia Test batsman Marcus Harris (14) in the powerplay and the Renegades were struggling at 48-3 as Mitchell Marsh got one over on his brother, Shaun.
The older Marsh was on just two when he swiped his brother to the leg-side fence, where Livingstone was on hand to ensure Mitchell got the family bragging rights.
RENEGADES REBUILD THROUGH HARPER AND WEBSTER
The failings of the Renegades' top order did not lead to a collapse, though, as half-centurions Harper and Webster gave them a good total.
Harper might have been out before he reached 50, but the ball slipped through the normally reliable Chris Jordan's hands on the ropes for a six that brought up the milestone.
He was eventually dismissed when Ashton Agar hung on to another chance in the deep but Webster's unbeaten half-century, which included four sixes and three boundaries, raised the prospects of a first Renegades victory.
LIVI DAZZLES DESPITE BOX-CLATTERING DELIVERIES
Perth's opening partnership effectively put paid to Melbourne's hopes, though, as Inglis and Livingstone compiled 102 in the first half of the Scorchers' innings.
Livingstone was able to lead the way despite twice copping painful-looking deliveries between his legs – the 26-year-old letting out audible groans on both occasions – and one of his four maximums travelled a whopping 97 metres.
Inglis upped the ante when his fellow opener chipped Richard Gleeson (3-30) straight to Finch, reaching his half century in 31 deliveries, two balls fewer than Livingstone, before falling caught-and-bowled to Kane Richardson.
Two sixes from Tim David (16) brought the total closer and Bancroft (20 not out) sealed the Scorchers' third win of the season.
Hosein took three wickets and scored a quick-fire 30 for Melbourne after Russell had bludgeoned them back into contention after a Michael Neser’s hat-trick had threatened to deny them victory.
Brisbane won the toss and chose to bat first but were two wickets down for 14 in the third over thanks to Mujeeb ur Rahman and Hosein who claimed the wickets of Max Bryant for five and Colin Munro for eight, respectively.
However, knocks of 25 from Sam Billings, 29 from Matt Renshaw and an unbeaten Jimmy Peirson helped stage a recovery. However, after a partnership of 61 between Billings and Renshaw both were dismissed by Tom Rogers in the 11th over as Brisbane slipped to 78-4.
It was soon 96-5 as Rogers dismissed Ross Whitely for 8 in the 15 over.
Hosein took the wickets of Neser (3) and James Bazley (0) in three balls in the 15th over. Peirson smashed 45 from 30 balls with six fours to get Brisbane to a competitive 138-7.
Rogers ended with 4-23 while Hosein took 3-26 in another solid performance with the ball.
Melbourne’s relatively simple chase of just under seven runs an over, became extremely difficult when Neser ripped through the top order with just nine runs on the board.
He dismissed Sam Harper first ball and then Jake Fraser-McGurk from the final ball of the first over and then in his second dismissed Nic Maddinson for two and Johnathan Wells for a duck in consecutive balls of his second over to leave Melbourne facing defeat.
However, Russell and Aaron Finch staged a recovery would set the team firmly on the path to victory.
Russell hit two fours and six sixes and he and Finch put on 81 for the fifth wicket before he got out caught behind off Mark Steketee for 57 from 42 balls.
Hosein picked up from where Russell left off hitting two fours and two sixes in a 39-run partnership with Finch. He eventually holed out to deep midwicket for 30 from 19 balls off the fifth ball of Steketee’s final over with Melbourne needing just nine from seven balls.
Will Sutherland smashed Steketee’s last ball for a massive six over the midwicket boundary leaving Finch to hit the winning runs, a four over extra cover to seal with victory from Bazley’s second ball of the final over.
Melbourne’s third straight win means they have six points and only trail leaders Adelaide Strikers on net run rate.
The Strikers scored 66 from the final five overs after a sedate start, with Wells (58 off 38) and Short (41 off 28) combining for 80 runs to help set a competitive total of 173-6 at the Adelaide Oval.
It was a score the Renegades, Big Bash League champions last season, never got near with only Beau Webster (49) and Shaun Marsh (21) making double figures in a risible chase.
Siddle (3-14) was chief protagonist, while Travis Head (2-26) - playing his first BBL game of the season - did early damage and Rashid Khan (2-19) also played an influential role in bowling the visitors out for 110.
The Strikers move third in the table, while the Renegades are 0-9 in an awful defence of their title.
WELLS AND SHORT STEP UP
Phil Salt (18), Jake Weatherald (27) and Head (22) all failed to build on starts and the Strikers were 81-4 when Harry Nielsen (4) trudged back in the 11th over.
But Wells upped the ante, with his knock including five fours and a six, while Short slogged three straight over the ropes in his innings.
It was a partnership that boosted the Strikers at the right time, with each member of the Renegades attack taking a wicket bar Dan Christian.
SIDDLE SINKS RENEGADES
The Renegades were up against it right from the off, with Head sweeping up Marcus Harris (4) in the very first over.
The sensational Siddle cleared up Sam Harper (5) from his first set of six and Marsh's promise was ended by the dangerous Head.
Rashid kept things tight and earned his reward with the wicket of Mohammad Nabi (6) before also ending the valiant resistance of Webster, who clobbered 49 off 33.
Siddle then accounted for Samit Patel (8) and Christian (2), with the rest of the Renegades tail unable to stop the rot.
Aaron Finch (109 off 68 balls) had led the struggling Renegades to 175-5 from their 20 overs at the SCG.
But after Josh Philippe's 61, Smith ensured the Sixers moved back into second in the table.
The Australia star made an unbeaten 66 off 40 balls as the Sixers reached their target with eight balls to spare.
FINCH PUNISHES SIXERS
Finch gave the Sixers chances when he was on 39 and 40, dropped by Jordan Silk and Philippe.
Another chance went begging when Finch was on 62, dropped by Ben Dwarshuis – who would face further punishment.
Bowling the next over, Dwarshuis was taken for 22 runs by Finch, including a six and three fours.
Finch went on to notch his eighth T20 century to guide the Renegades to what looked like a competitive total.
VINCE UNLUCKY
James Vince and Philippe helped the Sixers make a fine start to their chase, reaching 49 without loss after five overs.
But Vince's unfortunate dismissal would slow the Sixers down.
Will Sutherland dropped a return catch off Philippe, but the ball ricocheted onto the stumps at the non-striker's end, running Vince out for 22 off 13.
SMITH STEPS UP
That allowed Smith to take over.
A reverse sweep for four from Smith off Mohammad Nabi (1-27) in the 15th over helped the Sixers need 45 off the final five overs.
Smith almost went in the next over, with Nathan McSweeney producing a brilliant piece of fielding on the boundary, catching the ball as it was flying for six, but throwing it back as he fell over the rope.
But that would be the Renegades' last chance as Smith took control to lead the Sixers to victory.
Needing a win to keep their slim hopes of a finals place alive, the Hurricanes were put into bat by their hosts at the Marvel Stadium in Tuesday's bottom-of-the-table clash.
But Hobart captain Wade immediately set about punishing the Renegades for that decision, smashing his way to 50 in just 22 deliveries before succumbing in the eighth over when he sliced to third man.
Wright, however, more than picked up the slack as the visitors kept up the pace, though Mohammad Nabi dismissed Jake Doran (4) before Cameron Boyce found the edge of David Miller's bat.
A full toss from Daniel Christian allowed Wright to surpass a half-century, with the batsman - ably supported by Ben McDermott (38) - finishing on 70 from 50 balls as the Renegades were set a target of 191.
Wade's Australia team-mate Marcus Harris had far less success as he went in the second over of Melbourne's innings, prior to the Renegades losing Sam Harper to a head injury.
Beau Webster (50) and Nabi (63) gave Melbourne hope with some huge shots late on but, with the home side requiring 12 to win from nine deliveries, the latter picked out Wright at deep midwicket after hitting two successive sixes.
Webster's mishit from a full toss dashed Melbourne's hopes further, with Nathan Ellis bouncing back from an expensive previous over to ensure the win.
HARPER BECOMES FIRST CONCUSSION SUB IN BBL
With Wade and Wright having done the business for the Hurricanes, the Renegades were dealt a huge blow when Harper was forced off in the fourth over.
The wicketkeeper - who suffered a severe concussion in a 2017 when Jake Lehmann accidentally struck him in the helmet with his bat - sustained a hefty blow to the head when he clattered into Ellis while scampering for a run.
Dr Trefor James and team physio Nick Adock were swiftly on the scene and, though Harper appeared to try and shake off their concerns, he was clearly unsteady on his feet and was subsequently taken off, with Tom Cooper his replacement.
Harper was then assessed in the changing rooms, before being taken to a local hospital as a precautionary measure.
ELLIS HOLDS HIS NERVE
Nabi and Webster struck a combined 20 off of Ellis' penultimate over, taking the Renegades to within touching distance of victory.
But with Clive Rose having ended Nabi's impressive stand, Ellis regained his composure in a crucial final over, luring Webster into a poor shot before sealing the win with an exceptional dot ball under pressure on the fifth delivery.
It left the Renegades needing a six off the final ball to force a Super Over, but a fine yorker from Ellis ensured the win went to Hobart.
"What a finish, great finish from Nathan," player of the match Wright said. "It was a really good game."
