3 minute read
Ben McDermott has thrashed 93 to help Hobart Hurricanes cruise to an eight-wicket Big Bash League win over a depleted Brisbane Heat at the Gabba.
Leading Big Bash League run scorer Ben McDermott has been denied another ton but Hobart Hurricanes have still cruised to an eight-wicket win over a depleted Brisbane Heat at the Gabba.
McDermott was hoping to become the first player to notch four BBL career tons - and a third this season - but fell agonisingly short when he went for 93 off 61 balls as Hobart reeled in their target of 145 with 16 balls to spare.
McDermott hit 10 fours and two sixes, dominating a 117-run second wicket stand with stand-in skipper Peter Handscomb (27 off 33 balls) as fourth-placed Hobart reached 2-145 to snap a two-game losing run.
McDermott didn't have it all his own way, dropped on 51 off debutant spinner Patrick Dooley (0-25 off four overs), one of a raft of replacements called up by Brisbane after 12 players tested positive for COVID-19 during the week.
Still, Hobart made short work of a new-look Heat despite being without skipper Matthew Wade, who will sit out the BBL indefinitely for personal reasons.
Fifth-placed Brisbane suffered their fourth loss in five games but at least registered a Bash Boost point by ensuring Hobart didn't reach their mid-innings target of 73, as they restricted the visitors to 1-68 off 10 overs.
Earlier, unheralded call-up Lachlan Pfeffer hit a fighting 69 to lead Heat to 8-144 after being sent in by the visitors.
The 30-year-old Pfeffer's 51-ball knock included six fours and three sixes.
Pfeffer has a Queensland contract but played the last of his six Sheffield Shield games two years ago and has only registered a solitary one-day game for his state, back in 2018.
The wicketkeeper-batsman still looked like an old pro at No.3 in just his third Twenty20 game after his midweek call-up, combining with Will Prestwidge (21 off seven balls) to help Brisbane post a competitive target.
Mitchell Owen took 2-25 but also had two chances go down including Pfeffer on 44 while spinner Sandeep Lamichhane (2-23) also impressed.
Brisbane next take on Adelaide Strikers at the Gabba on Wednesday.
Hobart will face Sydney Thunder at the MCG on Monday, starting three double-headers in Victoria to be held to make up games lost through COVID-19 outbreaks.
Only Wednesday's postponed clash between Brisbane and the Sydney Sixers is still to be made up in the revamped schedule.
The game was postponed after a dozen Heat players tested positive and they were unable to make up the required 13-strong squad.