Hurricanes win Big Bash trophy

Mitchell Owen celebrates a
stunning century  •  Getty Images
Mitchell Owen celebrates a stunning century • Getty Images

(ESPN) As chants of “Mitchell Owen, Mitchell Owen” were ringing around a packed Ninja Stadium, with the majority having stayed on to see Hobart Hurricanes be presented with the BBL trophy for the first time, the man himself was still trying to take it all in after what had the makings of a life-changing performance.

Owen’s 42-ball 108, the century coming from a tournament joint-fastest 39 balls, included some of the cleanest hitting imaginable as Hurricanes made what appeared likely to be a demanding chase of 183 become a cakewalk with 35 balls remaining to end a 14-year wait for the title.

“So surreal,” Owen told Fox Cricket. “To be here and hear them chanting my name, it hasn’t quite sunk in, but it’s amazing and I’m so grateful for it.

“All I wanted to do was lift that trophy. I was actually disappointed to get out, I wanted to be able to hit the winning runs and get us home a little bit easier, so I didn’t have to sit there a bit nervous, but it’s super special, it’s a childhood dream and I’m so grateful.”

Owen’s transformation from a middle-order batter with a middling record to a T20 opener who will now likely attract attention from around the world has been remarkable and the story of the BBL season. “I think feeling backed by [coach] Jeff [Vaughan] and Nath [Ellis], and the whole team really, that’s quite powerful,” he said. “I was just super clear when I went out there, I knew what I wanted to do and needed to do, and I was lucky enough it paid off.” Team-mates were quick to laud a display which has propelled Owen from a fringe state cricketer into the global limelight. “I haven’t seen too many blokes hit the ball like that and the way he can just keep going,” Matthew Wade told Fox Cricket.

“To be honest, I was wanting him to go through the gears a little bit, but he doesn’t have that in him, he just keeps going and takes the game away from the teams. It was exceptional hitting, he’s going to be a hell of a player for a long time.”