After two grand final defeats and 14 seasons, Hobart Hurricanes have scaled the Big Bash League mountain, claiming their maiden title in a rollicking seven-wicket demolition of Sydney Thunder as records tumbled in Tasmania.
And local boy Mitch Owen was the conductor in front of 15,706, turning Ninja Stadium into a gladiatorial bloodbath as the purple army roared in the stands, dismantling the battered Thunder bowlers to punctuate his arrival as an international prospect with a record-equalling 108.
After being set 183 for victory, Owen wielded the willow like a greatsword cutting down swathes of enemies, sending the white-ball flying into the Thunder’s dark night 11 times for six on his way to the fastest-ever BBL hundred, equalling retired Perth Scorcher Craig Simmons on 39 balls.
Chasing teams had succeeded just once in the last seven finals, but the Hurricanes were inevitable from the first over, which was sent for 23 as the home side bashed 0-74 from the four-over Power Play.
However, if it wasn’t for Nathan Ellis and Riley Meredith pulling back the Thunder’s lighting start in the first innings with dual three-fers after David Warner and Jason Sangha started like a house on fire, it could have been a very different night.
Ellis’ leadership was spot on, even when star import Chris Jordan went for an uncharacteristic 0-47, and the captain celebrated in style as his teams’ place in the BBL annuls was sealed with a ramped boundary.
“It was pretty special, but all I really wanted was (the win), and it’ll be all the more special,” he told Fox Cricket after his knock.
“I was trying to stay calm out there, but (the crowd chanting) got me going out there, so maybe I need that in every game.
“I have lots of friends and family out here, and it’s something I’ve dreamt of for a long time.”
David Warner licked his lips after losing the toss and being sent into bat, with him and Jason Sangha quickly showing why, flying at 10 an over through the opening five overs of the clash.
Sangha used convention to crash through the line of the ball, but Warner kept the quicks guessing with his vast array of crafty ramps and sweeps.
The looks of concern were obvious for the Hurricanes at the drinks break with the Thunder on track for 200, but skipper Nathan Ellis took responsibility as he’s done all season.
With the second ball after the break, he caught Warner unbalanced outside his off stump, drawing him into a flash he nicked to Matthew Wade behind the wicket.
He then dipped into the bag of tricks to remove Matthew Gilkes first ball, chopping a back-of-the-hand slower ball onto the stumps.
Sam Billings avoided the hattrick by a mere metre, chipping his first delivery just short of mid-off.
Hobart again looked to fall away; Wade caught on the stump mic venting frustration about the field settings.
However, just as the visitors geared up for the Power Surge, Riley Meredith removed Billings with a searing yorker.
Running between the wickets was a feature of Sangha’s night outside the Power Play, the 25-year-old pushing his way into the 60s.
But he was starved of the strike by Ollie Davies before chunking a catch to mid-off off Ellis for 67 from 42.
When Davies fell for 26 and George Garton a golden duck, Hobart were back in the contest, restricting Sydney to 7-182.
No one was immune to the nerves of the run chase, Nathan McAndrew sending the first ball down legside for five wides.
Mitch Owen alleviated his with a clean six over deep mid-wicket as 23 came off the opening over of the chase.
Spinner Tom Andrews strayed into the breakout star’s arc as well, brutalised as the home side raced to 0-40 after just 12 deliveries.
Owen then greeted Wes Agar with an 86-metre maximum as the Hobart crowd chanted his name.
And like a gladiator of ancient Rome, he didn’t let them down, bashing two more maximums and a boundary to take Agar’s first set for 22.
Matters got worse as Caleb Jewell was dropped on five, and then a misfield from the next ball allowed him to hand the strike back to Owen, who helped himself to another boundary, this time over backward point.
The shot brought up his half century from 16 deliveries, the third-fastest in league history and fastest in a final.
Thunder’s 0-40 off the Power Play paled in comparison to the Hurricane’s 0-74, the back of the chase already appearing fractured.
The fall of Jewell for 13 and Nikhil Chaudhary or one to Tanveer Sangha were mere footnotes as Owen equalled the record for the fastest-ever century with a scampered two.
Owen’s 11th six came from the next ball, the contest all but over.
His herculean effort finally ended as he was caught going after Andrews again.
Content Source: www.perthnow.com.au