Hampshire re-sign Australia pair to defend T20 Blast title

Nathan Ellis and Ben McDermott played crucial roles as the county won the competition in dramatic circumstances last summer

Australian pair Ben McDermott and Nathan Ellis have re-joined Hampshire for this summer's T20 Blast as the county look to defend their title.

McDermott scored 62 off just 36 balls in last year's final as Hampshire beat Lancashire by just one run. The Australia international opened the batting with James Vince throughout the tournament, scoring 494 runs at an average of 29.05.

Ellis, meanwhile, was pivotal to Hampshire's excellent bowling attack, taking 15 wickets from 13 matches. The Australian had the team's best economy rate of 6.87 and bowled his side to victory in the final in remarkable fashion.

He kept his nerve for the last ball, having thought he'd won the game a delivery earlier, only for it to be called a no-ball.

^{Ellis and McDermott are also Big Bash teammates (Steve Bell/Getty Images)}

McDermott said: "I'm over the moon to have re-signed with the Hawks and can't wait to play in front of the Ageas Bowl crowd again."

Hampshire director of cricket Giles White described it as "a great boost" to have the duo back for another summer.

Ellis added: "I'm really excited to be back onboard and I can't wait to be back around a great bunch of lads as we push for more silverware."

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