Ben McDermott has written his name into Australian cricket’s history books with a century some are calling the best the BBL has seen.
Ben McDermott has created Australian cricket history, becoming the first player to score three centuries in the history of the Big Bash.
He smashed 110 not out to guide his Hobart Hurricanes to a win over the Adelaide Strikers on Monday night and he continued that hot form against the Melbourne Renegades on Wednesday.
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Batting first at Marvel Stadium, McDermott blasted another century, bludgeoning 127 runs off 65 balls — including nine fours and nine sixes.
It is the third highest score ever in the Big Bash — only behind Marcus Stoinis’ 147 not out and Matthew Wade’s 130 not out.
In becoming the first player to score three Big Bash tons, he surpassed Usman Khawaja, Alex Carey, Aaron Finch, Darcy Short, Craig Simmons and Englishman Luke Wright, who have all scored two BBL centuries.
McDermott also became the first player to ever hit back-to-back centuries in the tournament’s history following his effort against the Strikers.
The opening batter is now the first player to score more than 300 runs across a three-innings span in the Big Bash.
Commentators were in awe of McDermott’s display of control and power hitting.
“Wowee that is some innings,” former Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds said on Fox Cricket.
“Ben McDermott just played the innings of his life. That’s the best Big Bash hundred I’ve seen, comfortably,”
“That’s the best Big Bash innings that’s ever been played. I’ll go as far as to say that. That was a superb innings. Well played.
“The way he absorbed the pressure early on. There was wickets falling around him, now he’s made a real dash of it.”
Former England captain Michael Vaughan added: “I don’t know if you can play any better than that.”
A late cameo from Tim David (30 off nine balls) helped power the Hurricanes to an imposing total of 5-206 off their 20 overs.
Viewers were stunned by McDermott’s second straight century.
“Ben McDermott and Tim David just effectively murdered the Renegades in cold blood,” sports journalist Alex Grant tweeted.
ESPNcricinfo’s Andrew McGlashan said: “Jeepers, that was some striking by McDermott and David.”
McDermott has played a handful of white-ball games for Australia but his century-making form has put his name up in lights ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League auction and next year’s T20 World Cup in Australia.
“He’s showed power, touch and cricket smart,” Symonds said.
“He’s done himself the world of good with a world cup not that far away.”
The only blemish for McDermott came when he was run out on the last ball of the innings unselfishly attempting a quick single — denying him the chance to finish unbeaten.
In reply, the Renegades — with three batters dismissed for a golden duck — were bowled out for 121, six less than McDermott’s individual score.
Originally published as ‘Extraordinary’: Ben McDermott creates Big Bash history with back-to-back centuries
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