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Hobart Hurricanes lift maiden BBL title | 14:14
Third time’s the charm.
Following 13 years of heartbreak, the Hobart Hurricanes have secured their maiden Big Bash League title after Mitchell Owen’s record-equalling century steered the men in purple towards a dominant seven-wicket win over the Sydney Thunder at Bellerive Oval on Monday evening.
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Chasing 183 for victory in the Tasmanian capital, Owen smacked a staggering 108 (42) that featured 11 sixes to help the Hurricanes reel in the target with 35 balls to spare. The powerful right-hander only needed 39 deliveries to reach triple figures, equalling the competition record set by Perth Scorchers opener Craig Simmons in January 2014.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” Owen said during the post-match presentation.
“I’m kind of lost for words.”
MATCH CENTRE: Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Thunder live scorecard
Owen, who has no doubt caught the attention of national selectors and IPL franchises, combined with opening partner Caleb Jewell for a 109-run partnership to send the sellout Hobart crowd into a frenzy. The 23-year-old made a mockery of the Thunder’s bowling attack, repeatedly sending overpitched deliveries into the stands and onto the hill.
“I haven’t seen too many blokes hit the ball like that,” Hurricanes wicketkeeper Matthew Wade told Fox Cricket after the triumph.
“He just keeps going and takes the game away from teams.
“It was exceptional hitting. He’s going to be a hell of a player for a long time.”
Fastest hundreds in the Big Bash League
39 balls – Craig Simmons (PS) vs AS, 2014
39 balls – Mitchell Own (HH) vs ST, 2025
41 balls – Glenn Maxwell (MS) vs HH, 2022
41 balls – Josh Brown (BH) vs AS, 2024
Earlier, the Thunder posted 7-182 courtesy of Jason Sangha’s 67 (42), his first T20 half-century in over three years, which featured five boundaries and two sixes. Having missed most of the Big Bash campaign with a bicep injury, the former Thunder captain delivered for his club in the absence of openers Sam Konstas and Cameron Bancroft with a 31-ball fifty.
However, the Sydney-based franchise wasted its golden start as Hurricanes captain Nathan Ellis (3-23 from four overs) and speedster Riley Meredith (3-27 from four overs) tamed the cautious middle order after the drinks break.
The Hurricanes, who topped the Big Bash standings this summer with seven wins, lift the coveted trophy for the first time after losing both of their previous final appearances in 2014 and 2018.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Ellis continued.
“I feel so proud … I feel quite emotional right now.
“I feel like we deserve to be here. We deserve to be winners.”
After the Hurricanes won the toss and chose to bowl first, Sangha formed a 97-run partnership with captain David Warner, the club’s highest opening stand of the season, before Ellis flipped the script with back-to-back wickets in the 11th over. Warner nicked a slower ball through to Wade for 48 (32) before Matthew Gilkes chopped back onto his stumps for a golden duck, with the hat-trick delivery landing agonisingly short of mid-off.
The twin dismissals sparked a collapse of 4-49 as the Thunder’s middle order stalled — Meredith produced an inswinging yorker to topple gloveman Sam Billings for 20 (14) before Ellis returned to end Sangha’s classy knock, caught at mid-off following a miscued slog.
Ollie Davies, returning from a thigh injury, hit 26 (18) in a late cameo before all-rounder Chris Green clobbered a handy 16 (9) at the death to end the innings with a flourish.
The Hurricanes’ run chase got off to a flying start with 62 runs from the opening three overs, including five wides from Nathan McAndrew’s wayward first delivery. Targeting the venue’s short square boundaries, Owen thumped three sixes during Wes Agar’s first over before bringing up his half-century in just 16 deliveries, the equal third-fastest fifty in BBL history.
It was like watching a game of Stick Cricket. By the end of the four-over Powerplay, the match outcome was a foregone conclusion.
The wheels began falling off for the Thunder towards the end of the Powerplay, with the tourists guilty of sloppy misfields, dropped catches, missed run-outs and lazy overthrows. Leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha struck twice in the eighth over to briefly stem the flow of runs, but it was too little too late for the men in lime green.
Hurricanes celebrate winning the BBL Photo by Steve Bell/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesOwen passed triple figures in the tenth over but fell victim to spinner Tom Andrews caught at cow corner moments after the drinks break, with the adoring crowd chanting his name as he trudged off the field.
“All I wanted to do was lift that trophy,” Owen told Fox Cricket after the match.
“I was actually disappointed to get out, I wanted to be able to hit the winning runs and get us home.
“But it’s super special. It’s a childhood dream, and I’m very grateful.”
Wade, who got into a verbal altercation with Billings, knocked off the remainder of the runs alongside Ben McDermott, with Hurricanes players sprinting onto the field after the victory was sealed with a lap shot.
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