Mitchell Owen lifts the Hobart Hurricanes to a maiden BBL crown with equal-fastest Big Bash century

Mitchell Owen played the most exhilarating innings of his career, smashing a stunning century to defeat the Sydney Thunder and win the Hobart Hurricanes their first Big Bash League title. Owen blasted 108 runs off 42 balls, including 11 sixes, equaling the record for the fastest century in the tournament's history, sending the crowd at Bellerive Oval into raptures.

Hobart chased down the 183 runs needed to win with six overs to spare, with Matthew Wade (32 off 17 balls) also playing a strong hand late in the innings. While Ben McDermott won the game with a boundary that went over the keeper, sparking purple fireworks in the Tasmanian capital, there was no doubt the night belonged to Owen.

The Thunder went into the final as underdogs and were sent in to bat after losing the coin toss. But they had every reason to feel pleased with their 7-182 total, led by a 97-run opening stand between Jason Sangha and David Warner. That was until Hobart’s local hero began his own fireworks display.

Owen raised his bat to celebrate his half-century in just the fourth over, before reaching triple figures with a further 11 sixes (a Big Bash League final record) and six fours. Wes Agar was particularly punished, being hit for three sixes in four balls as the early intent was shown. The innings also confirmed Owen as the leading run-scorer in this Big Bash League, the unheralded 23-year-old overtaking Warner midway through his high-scoring knock.

Owen had the opportunity to break the record for the fastest century in Big Bash League history, but a boundary shot just failed to reach the rope. Instead, he equaled Craig Simmons’ 39-ball century from 2014, earning praise from his teammates. “That was next-level hitting, made it a lot easier for us at the back end,” said Wade. The state's favorite son and also the team's strategy head, Ricky Ponting, called Hobart’s achievement “stunning”. “Hats off to you boys in purple,” the former test captain said in commentary.

The Thunder were sent in by Ellis, and the opening combination of Sangha and Warner started with ease. Both looked set for half-centuries but Warner was dismissed in the 11th over as Nathan Ellis took two wickets in two balls, halting the Thunder’s momentum and narrowly missing out on a hat-trick. Warner was caught by Matthew Wade with a screamer, who took the catch well, before Matthew Gilkes lowered his colors a ball later, waving his bat and being out for a golden duck. Ellis was inches away from the hat-trick as Sam Billings attempted a hit, the ball falling to Tim David near mid-off.

The Hurricanes captain was outstanding, not conceding a single boundary in his 3-23, with Riley Meredith also impressive with 3-27, including two wickets at the end of the 19th over. Meredith, another Tasmanian, had an unremovable smile on his face as the celebrations began. “I’ve been a Hurricanes fan since the first season of the Big Bash,” he said.

Hobart’s success in the 14th edition of the revamped domestic T20 competition leaves the Melbourne Stars as the only team without a title. After losing their first-round match, the Hurricanes went on to win seven in a row to secure the minor premiership before taking two home final wins to lift the trophy.