Ben McDermott has overcome some nerves on return from concussion to blast the Hobart Hurricanes to a crucial seven-wicket BBL win over the Sydney Thunder.
The 29-year-old, who missed two games after a training mishap, top-scored with an unbeaten 34-ball 53 at Blundstone Arena on Monday night.
McDermott combined with the in-form Mac Wright (34 from 25 balls) for an 85-run partnership as Hobart chased down Sydney's 8-150 with 11 balls to spare.
It wasn't all smooth sailing though, with veteran wicketkeeper Matthew Wade appearing to tweak a back problem while batting.
"He’s clearly had a back (injury) and missed a game in Perth a week or so ago," Hurricanes coach Jeff Vaughan told Fox Cricket.
“It has only flared up during the game. There was no feedback at the innings break, so something has happened while he was batting."
The victory, Hobart's second of the season from five matches, lifted them from last to fifth - two competition points outside the top four.
The Thunder, meanwhile, have dropped to bottom of the table with just one win after six matches in a shortened 10-games-per-team competition.
McDermott was returning from an eight-day concussion stand-down after being struck in the head at training.
"(I also) woke up with a really sore neck, which is another symptom of concussion," McDermott said.
"I was a little bit nervous coming back actually.
"(I was) coming off a couple of low scores and then missing two games … (but) I was itching to get back."
McDermott and Wright took 22 runs from the two-over power surge taken in the 13th over to get the chase down to roughly a run a ball.
Wright's knock came on the back of an impressive 36-ball 63 against the Renegades and 33 from 19 against the Stars.
Chris Jordan was earlier the pick of the Hurricanes bowlers with 2-20 from four overs, while spinners Nikhil Chaudhary and Paddy Dooley also picked up two scalps each.
Sydney lost regular wickets throughout, including English import Tom Kohler-Cadmore, who was run out without facing a ball.
Kohler-Cadmore, who has a career strike-rate of 140 at an average of almost 30, unsuccessfully took on the arm of Wright in the deep in the fourth over.
Skipper Chris Green, who gave the Thunder's innings a late boost with an unbeaten 33 from 17 deliveries, said it was a disappointing batting performance.
"We lost too many early wickets and couldn’t really get going," he said.
"(We) scrambled to a half-respectful score, but were at least 30 runs short.
"It has been the same issue for us throughout this tournament so far from a batting perspective.
"Besides one game at Adelaide Oval, we haven’t had batters go on and make a big score.
"We’ve struggled to get 50s. It’s not good enough from us."
