Ben McDermott takes mantle as leading Big Bash run scorer after nearly steering Hurricanes home

Ben McDermott’s blistering 91 against the Melbourne Stars saw him take the mantle as the BBL leading run scorer but it was little consolation after the Hurricanes’ chase came up short

LEAPFROGGING into the golden cap as the BBL’s leading run scorer was of little consolation to Hurricanes slugger Ben McDermott after the side came up short against the Melbourne Stars.

McDermott’s brilliant 91 from 58 balls, which contained eight boundaries and five sixes — one which sailed onto the Ricky Ponting Stand roof — was ultimately outshone by West Indian Andre Fletcher, whose heroics in the field enabled the Stars to defend their 6-183 total by 10 runs.

Ben McDermott of the Hurricanes bats during the Big Bash League match between the Melbourne Stars and the Hobart Hurricanes at Blundstone Arena, on January 04, 2021, in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Needing 75 runs from the last five overs when they activated their power surge, the Hurricanes threatened to pull off a remarkable chase with McDermott in full flight and the dangerous Colin Ingram at the crease.

However two sensational catches by Fletcher in the space of 10 balls in the deep thwarted Hobart’s charge, the second of which ended McDermott’s fightback.

His second half century of the tournament saw him jump to the top of the runs scoring table with 277 at an average of 55.4 and strike rate of 136, but he was in no mood to celebrate.

“Very bittersweet, it’s not nice losing games like that, we got it down to the wire, we played really well and I thought we set it up really nicely but just couldn’t get it done in the end, which is really disappointing,” McDermott said.

“We knew the power surge was coming and that’s been such a game changer, either way, so we knew if we won that we would put ourselves in really good stead and I think we did realistically win it.

“Just coming back out of it after I think it was 17 overs onwards we just couldn’t quite get it going.

“The “Spiceman” [Fletcher] has probably won them the game there hasn’t he.”

Ben McDermott of the Hurricanes reacts after being dismissed for 91 during the Big Bash League match between the Melbourne Stars and the Hobart Hurricanes at Blundstone Arena, on January 04, 2021, in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

The Hurricanes head to Perth with a 5-3 record, and are still well placed despite dropping their first match at Blundstone Arena this summer.

“It would have obviously been nice to win that one tonight but I’ve said it from the start, you need to peak at the right times in these sorts of tournaments … make sure you’re playing well at the back end,” McDermott said.