An inspired Mitchell Owen has produced the innings of his career, thrashing a mighty century to rout the Sydney Thunder and deliver the Hobart Hurricanes a maiden Big Bash League title.
Owen struck 108 in 42 balls, including the competition’s equal-fastest century on Monday night as the Hurricanes delighted a capacity crowd at Bellerive Oval.
Set 183 to win, Hobart reached the total with 35 balls to spare, with Matthew Wade (32 off 17) also superb late on.
While Ben McDermott struck the winning runs with a ramp over the wicketkeeper, sparking purple fireworks in the Tasmanian capital, there was no doubting the night belonged to Owen.
The Thunder came into the final as underdogs and were sent in after losing the toss, but had every right to be pleased with their tally of 7-182, powered by a 97-run opening stand between Jason Sangha and David Warner.
That was, until Hobart’s hometown hero began fireworks of his own.
Owen raised his bat for a half-century in just the fourth over, powering on with 11 sixes – a BBL final record – and six fours as he reached triple figures.
Wes Agar went for particular punishment, three sixes in four balls in an early sign of intent.
The innings also confirmed Owen’s place as this BBL’s leading run-scorer, the unheralded 23-year-old overtaking Warner mid-way through his huge score.
Owen had a chance to strike the fastest outright century in BBL history, only for a boundary to fall just short of the rope.
Instead, he tied Craig Simmons’ 39-ball century from 2014, winning plaudits from his teammates.
“That was next level hitting that made it pretty easy for us at the end,” Wade said.
The state’s favourite son Ricky Ponting, also the team’s head of strategy, called Hobart’s achievement “astronomical”.
“Take a bow you boys in purple,” the former Test captain said in commentary.
The Thunder were sent in by Ellis, with opening pair Sangha and Warner making it look easy early.
Both looked set to notch half-centuries but Warner fell in the 11th over as Nathan Ellis arrested the Thunder’s innings with two wickets in two balls, falling agonisingly short of a hat-trick.
Warner edged a slog to Matthew Wade, who caught well, before Matthew Gilkes lowered his colours a ball later, dangling his bat and playing on for a golden duck.
Ellis was just metres short of a triple, with Sam Billings prodding at a ball which landed just shy of Tim David at mid-off.
The Hurricanes captain was superb, conceding not a single boundary on his way to 3-23, with Riley Meredith also sharp with 3-27 including two 19th over wickets in a late innings squeeze.
It was impossible to wipe the smile off Meredith, another Tasmanian, as celebrations began.
“I’ve been a fan of the Hurricanes since BBL1,” he said.
Hobart’s success, in the 14th edition of the revamped domestic T20 competition, leaves the Melbourne Stars as the only side without a title.
After an opening-round loss, the Canes won seven straight to claim the minor premiership, before two final victories at home to lift the trophy.
