HOBART: Mitchell Owen smashed a 39-ball century to power Hobart Hurricanes to crush Sydney Thunder and clinch their maiden Big Bash League (BBL) title here at the Bellerive Oval on Monday.
The home side needed 183 to claim their first title and they chased down the highest total in a BBL final comfortably with 35 balls to spare, courtesy of Owen’s blistering century – the joint-fastest in the history of the league.
The right-handed batter launched a ruthless attack on the Thunder’s bowlers from the word go and reached the triple figures inside 10 overs.
He smashed six fours and 11 sixes on his way to 108 off 42 deliveries and walked back after bringing the required equation down to 44 off 58 balls.
Wicketkeeper batter Matthew Wade and middle-order batter Ben McDermott gave final touches to the pursuit with brisk cameos as Hurricanes raced to a resounding seven-wicket victory in the high-stakes clash.
Wade scored 32 off 17 deliveries with the help of five fours and a six, while McDermott made a 12-ball 18.
For the Thunder, Tanveer Sangha picked up two wickets, while Tom Andrews struck once.
Put into bat first, the Thunder registered a formidable total of 182/7 in their 20 overs, thanks to a flamboyant start provided by their openers Sangha and skipper David Warner.
The duo put together a brisk 97-run opening stand until Warner fell victim to Nathan Ellis in the 11th over. He scored 48 off 32 deliveries, laced with five fours and a six.
Ellis and Riley Meredith then made regular strikes to restrict the flow of runs for the Thunder despite Sangha’s half-century.
The opening batter remained the top-scorer for the Thunder with 67 off 42 deliveries, comprised of five fours and two sixes.
For Hurricanes, Meredith and Ellis bagged three wickets each.
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