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Hobart Hurricanes opener Ben McDermott single-handedly guided Hobart Hurricanes to a comfortable seven-wicket win against Adelaide Strikers by making short work of 176-run total. McDermott’s unbeaten 110 kept Strikers out of the game and even their star leg-spinner Rashid Khan could not provide the much-needed breakthrough to make a comeback.
In the end, it turned out to be a comprehensive run chase for Hurricanes as they got over the line with nine balls to spare.
Despite the early wicket of skipper Matthew Wade, McDermott and D’Arcy Short kept Hurricanes in the hunt. McDermott took 36 deliveries to reach his half-century in the 12th over. In the next over, skipper Peter Siddle broke the partnership by sending Short back to the dugout for 37. The two shared a crucial 81-run partnership for the second wicket.
After Short’s wicket, McDermott accelerated. Rashid got the wicket of Harry Brook but the Hurricanes opener managed to hit him for a six in his final overs. With the Afghan leg-spinner’s overs finished, there was no real threat from the Strikers’ side.
The 27-year-old targetted Siddle in the 18th over and in the next reached his second BBL century with a six off Wes Agar. He took 22 deliveries to get to the 100-run mark after scoring the half-century mark. After Brooks’ wicket, McDermott finished the job himself with Tim David facing just four deliveries. His unbeaten 110 included 12 fours and five sixes.
It is the fourth century of the season and second-fastest. Colin Munro, Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell are the other three batters to breach the three figures this season.
Earlier Siddle won the toss and elected to bat first. Matthew Short got out early but half-centuries from opener Jake Weatherald and Matt Renshaw helped Strikers set the stage for a big total. Weatherald took 43 deliveries for his 51 whereas Renshaw scored a 41-ball 63. The two shared a 118-run partnership for the second wicket. Riley Meredith got rid of both batters followed by Jonathan Wells. Towards the end, it was Thomas Kelly’s 18-ball 28 cameo that helped Strikers post 175/5.
With this win, Hurricanes now have 14 points from six matches and placed third on the points table. On the other hand, Strikers suffered their fifth defeat in six matches and are placed seventh on the table with seven points.
