Twitter Reactions: Ben McDermott's blinder guides Hurricanes to a spectacular win over Thunder

Ben McDermott and Dawid Malan singlehandedly stole the show to guide Hobart Hurricanes to a 6-wicket victory over the second-placed Sydney Thunder in the 43rd encounter of the Big Bash League (BBL) 2020-21. After electing to field first, a 4-wicket haul from Scott Boland around the frugal spells from Riley Meredith and Sandeep Lamichchane restricted the Thunder to 177 for 5.

64 for 1 after 7 overs, it did seem that they were on the course of giving their opposition a stiffer target to chase, however, a triple-wicket 8th over from Scott Boland turned the momentum incredibly. He knocked over Usman Khwaja (27 from 22) after Alex Hales – who holed out to Nathan Ellis at deep square leg, managing 29 from 23 – and Olivier Davies, who failed to counter a bouncer as he deposited the ball behind to record a golden duck.

Hurricanes keep Thunder’s scoring in check

A 68-run stand between Callum Ferguson and Sam Billings repaired the Thunder’s innings to a significant extent, however, the bowlers for Hurricanes ensured that the opponents could not adventure too much. Ferguson particularly struggled to find his feet moving even as Sam Billings was flowing from the other end. Scoring at not even run-a-ball (23 from 24), Ferguson deflected a Nathan Ellis delivery onto his stumps.

The pivot for the Thunder was Billings, who reached his half-century by slamming Boland for a boundary. Although, it was Boland who had the last laugh as Billings, after completing his 50 from 33, top-edged the immediately succeeding delivery, which was caught by the wicketkeeper. Despite the fall of Billings, Ben Cutting (15 from 10) ensured that his team did not pick any lesser than 33 runs from the Power Surge overs. Daniel Sams chipped in alongside Cutting, as his 16 from 6 guided them to 177.

Ben McDermott blasts off after a messy start

The Hurricanes made a messy start courtesy of Adam Milne, who cleaned up Will Jacks for a duck on the first ball of Hurricanes’ response. Even before they could have mustered the thoughts of rebuilding after the early loss, D’Arcy Short miscued McAndrew’s length ball straight into the hands of Alex Hales at mid-on. What followed was a rampage by Ben McDermott, who ripped apart the Thunder’s bowlers through his astonishing knock of 96 from 56, which had eight boundaries and five sixes in all.

He had the able company of Dawid Malan, who scored 42 from 28 with four fours and a six, and the duos 109-run blitz from 66 balls for the third wicket crushed any advantage that the Thunder had generated through a couple of early strikes. McDermott seemed threatening as he expressed himself without any reservations, slamming boundaries and sixes at will, whereas there was hardly any stopping to Malan either, who took off soon after getting his eyes in. Though Malan was denied his half-century by Tanveer Sangha, who got rid of him in the 13th over after Malan ill-executed a reverse sweep to McAndrew at backward point, McDermott continued his merciless carnage, now with Peter Handscomb.

When a century seemed imminent, he top-edged to Davies off Sangha, to fall 4 short of a deserving triple figure. Despite his fall, the result was almost sealed as Tim David joined Handscomb, who scored 21 from 16, to take the Hurricanes to victory with a massive 12 balls to spare. With the victory, Hurricanes climb to the fourth spot in the table, whereas Thunder continues to occupy the second spot, however, the thrill at the top of the table has been significantly increased by this result.

Here are the best tweets:

Want Ben McDermott in SRH
Please take him @SRH
Release Marsh, he is prone to injuries.
McDermott can be ABD of SRH 😍😍

— Ryan Ike (@RyanIke4) January 18, 2021

Ben McDermott you absolute phenom. Young GOAT🐐🐐🐐

— Dextar— (@DextarDW) January 18, 2021

And it's another century miss by Ben McDermott. You expect a couple of these every season and he misses out everytime. Tremendous hitting, expect him to be in the 11 against @BLACKCAPS @HurricanesBBL #bbl2021

— Ashish Vatsal (@aapka_aasheesh) January 18, 2021

Kind of a no look shot @cricketcomau #BBL #hobarthurricanes #benmcdermott #nolookshot pic.twitter.com/pHHHoRXRUw

— 🅽🅸🆃🅸🆂🅷 🆁🅴🅳🅳🆈 (@Nitish_notarobo) January 18, 2021

Another match-winning performance from Ben McDermott, who struck 96🔥

Who’s looking forward to seeing him in #DCCC colours this year? 🤩 https://t.co/0qhj27aGeC

— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) January 18, 2021

Ben McDermott is an orgasmic Dangerous gem #BBL10

— Mehedi Hasan Shawon (@SportsBoyShaon_) January 18, 2021

Ben McDermott is another player personally i would love to see #SRH #orangearmy @VVSLaxman281

— piyushgarg (@piyush4747) January 18, 2021

Maybe Ben McDermott could eventually find himself as keeper/batsman in the test side?

— Richard Hallett (@RichardHallett8) January 18, 2021

Keep an eye on Ben McDermott in the Big Bash League for the upcoming IPL Auction. #IPLAuction #KKR

— Aman Asthana (@iamanasthana) January 18, 2021

also Ben McDermott is probably the most inform batsman in the country right now

— sam (@sammiee_k) January 18, 2021

Matthew Wade out. Ben McDermott is my new best friend 😂 get that man a baggy green!!!

— Patrick Gray (@PatrickM_Gray) January 18, 2021

Wonder how different the narrative on Ben McDermott might be if these scores in the 90s from the last three months had been tons:

90 v SA (#SheffieldShield)
90 v WA
91 v Stars (#BBL10)
96 v Thunder

Also an 89* v Renegades and a tour game 107* v India. He's in good touch.

— Louis Cameron (@LouisDBCameron) January 18, 2021

Ben McDermott!! ..
Whatt a player 🔥🔥
Clean hitter 🙌👏

— Cric Dream 11 (@Raghi_Reddy22) January 18, 2021

Ben McDermott has to be on that plane to New Zealand for the t20s series.

— Nick Jones (@Terra23710) January 18, 2021

Congrats to @HurricanesBBL Players, Coaches, Support Staff and Team Management.
Fantastic Knock Ben McDermott 96. Well played @dmalan29 42. Well bowled @sboland24 4/41.#BBL10

— JaayShaan(Shankar) (@JaayShaan) January 18, 2021