Left Arm Around

Mitch Owen’s remarkable hitting display led Hobart Hurricanes to a crushing seven-wicket victory over Sydney Thunder in the BBL final at Ninja Stadium.

His knock of 108 from 42 balls, which featured 11 sixes, was the joint-fastest hundred in BBL history- drawing level with Craig Simmons’ 39-ball ton for Adelaide Strikers in 2014.

Reaching their target of 183 with an impressive 35 balls to spare as Ben McDermott (18) and Matthew Wade (32) brought them safely home, the Hurricanes finally lifted the BBL trophy for the first time in front of a jubilant home crowd.

Victory was well-deserved for the Hurricanes having finished top of the regular season table.

For their opponents Sydney Thunder, however, it was certainly a case of what could have been.

After racing along to 97-0 from 10 overs, with Jason Sangha and captain David Thunder going well, the platform was laid for a massive total.

But after Hurricanes captain Nathan Ellis removed Warner (48) and Matthew Gilkes in consecutive balls, before later returning to dismiss Sangha (67), the innings derailed and they struggled to regain momentum.

Sam Billings added 20 and Ollie Davies 26, but the Thunder will have been disappointed by a final effort of 182-7 following that blistering start.

Ellis was the pick of the bowlers with 3-23, while Riley Meredith continued his impressive season with three wickets of his own.

While ST remained in the fight with runs on the board and the pressure of the final, what followed was a brutal onslaught of batting that virtually finished the game inside seven overs. That’s how good it was.

When the first wicket of Caleb Jewell fell on 109, he had only managed 13 from 12 as Owen blitzed his way towards a second century of the season.

And when Owen finally headed back to the pavilion after 10.2 overs, the initial asking rate of 9.15 runs per over had dropped to below 5 and the visiting bowlers were somewhat relieved despite the inevitability of defeat.

A century to remember means Owen finishes as the highest run-getter of BBL 14, with 452 runs from 11 matches.

He also ended as the highest six hitter with 36.

An awful showing with the ball should not overshadow an overall good season for Sydney Thunder, who beat cross-town rivals Sydney Sixers in the eliminator.

Melbourne Stars are now the only side NOT to win a men’s BBL title.