(ESPNCRICINFO) – Hobart Hurricanes opener Ben McDermott has become the first player in BBL history to crack successive centuries, firing his side to a comprehensive 85-run win against Melbourne Renegades.
The powerful right-handed opener clattered nine sixes and as many fours in a stunning knock of 127 from 65 balls at the Docklands Stadium last night.
It was the third-highest individual score in the BBL, behind Melbourne Stars’ Marcus Stoinis (147*) and Hurricanes team-mate Matthew Wade (130 not out).
It came to an anti-climactic end when he was run-out by Sam Harper on the final ball of Hurricanes’ innings.
At the halfway point of their innings, Hurricanes were ticking along slowly at 3 for 66, with McDermott unbeaten on 39 off 31 balls.
But the 27-year-old got going during the power surge as he and Peter Handscomb (24 off 20) took 44 runs off Zahir Khan (19) in the 13th over and Kane Richardson (25), who finished with 0 for 63 from four overs on return from illness.
Tim David (30*) came to the party late with four huge sixes in a nine-ball cameo as Hurricanes belted the most runs ever recorded in the back half of a BBL innings for a total of 5 for 206.
In response, Renegades opener Harper whacked the first ball of their chase for six and made a gritty 57 off 35.
But the hosts were never seriously in the hunt, bowled out for 121 in 15.5 overs.
Tom Rogers (3 for 24) and Sandeep Lamichhane (3 for 32) were the wicket-takers for Hurricanes.
McDermott is the first player to hit three BBL centuries, with two of those against the team that delisted him at the end of 2016.
Promoted to the top of the order on Christmas Eve, McDermott now has 304 runs in three innings as an opener at a strike rate of 180.95.
He clobbered 67 off 43 against Stars and followed it up with an unbeaten 110 off 60 against Adelaide Strikers on Monday.
The three monster efforts have led to a hat-trick of wins and put Hurricanes (with four wins and three losses) firmly back in the title hunt after a scratchy start to the season.
Renegades (one win and five losses) are staring down the barrel of a third-straight wooden spoon after five consecutive losses.
