Ben McDermott’s comeback from concussion proved instrumental as he led the Hobart Hurricanes to a commanding seven-wicket victory over the Sydney Thunder in the 2024 BBL season opener.
The Hurricanes, bolstered by McDermott’s impressive unbeaten 53 off 34 balls, efficiently chased down a target of 151 with 11 balls to spare at Blundstone Arena. McDermott’s return after missing two matches due to injury provided a significant boost to his team, steering them to their second win of the season from five matches and elevating them to fifth place on the ladder, just two points shy of the top four.
Partnering with the in-form Macalister Wright, McDermott orchestrated an 85-run partnership, setting the stage for their triumph. Wright’s consistent performance in recent games, including a notable 63 against the Renegades and a brisk 33 against the Stars, complemented McDermott’s contributions.
The Hurricanes capitalized on the power surge during the 13th over, accumulating 22 runs and adjusting the chase to nearly a run a ball. Despite Thunder’s captain Chris Green’s late surge with an unbeaten 33 off 17 deliveries, their innings struggled, losing wickets at regular intervals.
Notably, the Hurricanes’ bowlers, Chris Jordan, Nikhil Chaudhary, and Patrick Dooley, played pivotal roles in restricting Thunder’s innings. Jordan’s economical 2 for 20 from four overs, including the crucial dismissal of Oliver Davies during the power surge, set the tone. Chaudhary contributed with 2 for 26 from four overs, dismissing opener Cameron Bancroft and later trapping Nathan McAndrew leg before wicket in the 15th over.
Despite a strong start provided by Caleb Jewell’s 31 off 20 balls, Hurricanes suffered a setback when Jewell was caught in the eighth over by Daniel Sams. Nonetheless, McDermott’s return and Hurricanes’ strong all-around performance marked an emphatic start to their campaign while leaving Thunder with an uphill battle to secure a spot in the finals, having managed just one win in six games in the 10-match team competition.
