Stunning Owen century gives Hurricanes first Big Bash title

Hobart stormed to their victory target of 183 with 35 balls to spare courtesy of a memorable innings from opener Owen, who fired 108 from just 42 balls with a staggering 11 sixes.

Owen also had six fours and brought up his hundred in only 39 deliveries, equalling the record for the fastest BBL century.

By the time he was finally dismissed in the 11th over, victory was already all but assured for Hurricanes, with Ben McDermott (18 not out) hitting the winning runs as he saw the hosts over the line along with Matthew Wade (32no).

Making 185 in 14.1 overs to win your first BBL titleHobart are home! #BBL14 pic.twitter.com/qju0TSt507

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 27, 2025

Thunder looked on course to set an imposing total in their innings at Bellerive Oval in the first BBL final to be hosted in Tasmania.

They had not managed a half-century opening partnership once in the tournament so far, but captain David Warner and Jason Sangha superbly combined to help Sydney reach 97-0 after 10 overs.

However, they lost momentum when Hurricanes skipper Nathan Ellis (3-23) forced an edge to remove Warner for 48 and then bowled Matthew Gilkes (0) from the next ball.

Thunder attempted to rebuild, but wickets kept falling regularly to slow them down, with Riley Meredith (3-27) bowling Sam Billings (20) and Ellis getting the crucial wicket of Sangha, who finished with 67 from 42 balls, by forcing a top edge.

Ollie Davies (26) and Chris Green (16) helped Sydney up to a decent 182-7, but Hobart would have been relieved to have kept the total under 200 given the visitors' fast start.

And the home side, who finished first in the regular season standings, kept the momentum going by making a stunning start to the reply as Owen helped them to 23 from the first over to immediately move well ahead of the required rate.

A bombardment of huge hitting lifted the score to 109-0 after seven overs, by which point Owen already had nine sixes and an electric crowd was in raptures.

The momentum finally slowed when Tanveer Sangha took two wickets in the eighth over. Caleb Jewell (13), who had earlier been dropped by Gilkes, was caught by Warner before Nikhil Chaudhary (1) fell cheaply.

But Owen kept going for a while longer, with his innings finally coming to an end when he was caught in the deep off the bowling of Tom Andrews.

At that stage, Hobart only needed 44 runs from 58 balls, with McDermott and Wade relishing the comfortable task of getting their side over the line with a triumph that means Melbourne Stars are the only remaining team not to have won a BBL title.

Insanity.That was absurd from Mitch Owen. #BBL14 pic.twitter.com/m5WsqQxyyb

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 27, 2025

Thunder can reflect on a fine tournament, having turned around last season's wooden spoon with a second-place finish this season.

But they were overpowered at the last hurdle, meaning their wait for a first title since 2016 – when the likes of Usman Khawaja, Jacques Kallis, Shane Watson, Michael Hussey and Andre Russell were in their ranks – goes on.

Owen chose the perfect moment to score a record-equalling BBL century, giving Hobart their first triumph in the competition.

This was his second BBL hundred of the season and the rapid scoring saw him tie Craig Simmons for the fastest ton in tournament history.

Simmons also brought up a hundred off 39 balls, with his knock coming way back in January 2014 for Perth Scorchers against Adelaide Strikers.

As well as leading his side to victory, Owen’s match-winning knock also meant he overtook Warner to be named the highest run-scorer in the 2024-25 tournament.