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McDermott, Hurricanes smash records with victory

There were all sorts of records at Etihad Stadium as Ben McDermott's innings stole the show.

There were all sorts of records at Etihad Stadium as Ben McDermott's innings stole the show. Photo: Getty

Ben McDermott has smashed a blistering century to help the Hobart Hurricanes pull off a record-breaking Big Bash League win.

McDermott hit 114 off 52 balls – the second-highest score in BBL history – as the Hurricanes chased down a record target of 223 to beat the Melbourne Renegades by two wickets on Thursday night.

With 16 needed from the final over at Etihad Stadium, Cameron Boyce was run out by Sunil Narine to give the Renegades hope of saving the game.

But England paceman Stuart Broad hit the winning runs to secure victory and keep the Hurricanes’ season alive.

The 22-year-old McDermott belted nine sixes and eight fours before being trapped LBW by Narine, just three runs short of Luke Wright’s BBL record score of 117.

Renegades spinners Brad Hogg and Narine each took wickets in quick succession to leave the game in the balance before Broad saved the win.

George Bailey made 59, while Narine took 3-27 for the Renegades.

Aaron Finch

Aaron Finch was on fire for the Renegades. Photo: Getty

The Renegades earlier looked well-placed after posting a BBL-record 4-222, helped by half-centuries from Aaron Finch and Tom Cooper.

It was another impressive performance from Finch, who responded to being dropped from Australia’s one-day squad with 57 during the Renegades’ loss to the Sydney Sixers on Monday.

Fellow veteran Cameron White chipped in with an entertaining 34 with the Hurricanes bowlers offering little resistance.

But they were soon overshadowed by McDermott’s heroics.

The son of former Australian Test quick Craig McDermott was playing just his second game of the BBL season.

McDermott said he had felt under pressure early in his innings before some calming words from Bailey helped everything to click.

“Certainly (my best innings), by a long way,” McDermott said.

Stuart Broad (second from left) and Sam Rainbird of the Hurricanes react after hitting the winning runs.

Stuart Broad (second from left) and Sam Rainbird of the Hurricanes react after hitting the winning runs. Photo: AAP

“I’ve never got a hundred in Twenty20 cricket. To do it on the big stage was awesome.

“It’s almost better just going into this big run chases. You’ve just got a bit of freedom to go really hard.”

Renegades captain Finch had few answers for the turn of events after a strong start by his bowlers.

“The guys who bowled in the power-play did an amazing job. I couldn’t ask any more from that start,” he said.

“It’s just the way it is. That’s T20 sometimes. When you have a guy play an unbelievable knock like that … hats off to him. That was an incredible display of hitting.”

-AAP

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