A new BBL star was born after Hurricanes young gun Mitch Owen launched a stunning power-hitting blitzkrieg to steer his side to a bounce back win over Perth at Hobart on Saturday.
Watch every game of the BBL live and ad-break free during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.
MATCH CENTRE: Hurricanes vs Scorchers scorecard and more
Traditionally a late middle order power hitter, the decision to hand Owen the opening role proved a masterstroke as he plundered the Scorchers’ all-star attack in an incredible match-winning knock.
The imposing 23-year-old belted 101 off just 64 balls, including five huge sixes and nine fours, as the Hurricanes chased down the Scorcher’s 6-155 with eight wickets and four balls to spare.
West Indian Shai Hope (38 off 35 balls) proved the ideal foil for Owen as they put on 101 off 76 balls for the second wicket.
Owen’s previous best BBL score was 28, but the Scorchers bowlers were unable to quell his brutality.
Owen SMASHES 100m six to bring up 50 | 00:53
Looking to avenge a horror first outing against the Renegades on Thursday where they were dismissed for just 74, the hosts earlier put the clamps on the Scorchers after talisman Josh Inglis was run out at a vital time.
Australia’s white ball keeper (49 off 35 balls) put together a 54-run partnership with captain Ashton Turner (39 off 28).
But a running mix-up allowed paceman Riley Meredith to run out Inglis in his follow through.
Turner initially began to run from the non striker’s end, but left Inglis stranded one short of his half century.
It was a festive season gift, and Hobart made them pay. After Inglis’ departure at 4-132, the Scorchers managed just 2-23 off their final 25 deliveries.
Hurricanes vs Scorchers – Highlights | 14:45
Hurricanes skipper Nathan Ellis (1-28 off four overs) and English import Chris Jordan (0-29 off four) bowled brilliantly in the death overs to put their team in poll position on a good batting deck by restricting Perth to 6-155.
Meredith also had a day out with 3-27 after the Hurricanes won the toss and bowled.
Perth’s New Zealand international Finn Allen departed second ball for the second game this year after Hobart keeper Ben McDermott took a superb diving, one-handed catch off an inside edge off Meredith’s bowling.
After Cooper Connolly belted Meredith for three straight boundaries in the third over, Hurricanes paceman Billy Stanlake took another classic running backwards to dismiss the young gun.
Another nice catch running backwards at mid-on by Ellis to dismiss opener Keaton Jennings (35 off 28 balls) off wrist-spinning import Waqar Salamkheil.
It ended a 58-run partnership with Josh Inglis as the Scorchers moved to 3-78 in the tenth over.
In further good news for the Hurricanes, veteran Matthew Wade told Fox Sports pre game he expects to return soon from a calf injury picked up against the Renegades.
“I think it will be two games (missed), and hope to get it good for the 1st down here (New Year’s Day home game against Sydney Sixers),” he said.
“It’s about a two-weeker and that’s right on two weeks, we’re hoping I’ll be ready for that.”
OWEN DELIGHTS… BUT WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN?
In just his 15th BBL match, Mitch Owen punished the highly vaunted Perth Scorchers attack as he brought up his maiden half century, before going on to score a 63-ball century.
Such was Owen’s striking dominance that as he first raised his bat, the Hurricanes were 1-65 – Owen contributing 51 of those.
He landed a handful of massive sixes, including one that cleared the venue fence.
“It’s been some brutal batting from Mitch Owen,” Fox Cricket’s Brad Haddin praised.
“The hitting tonight has just been top shelf.”
Owen’s highest score leading into the match was 28 – and he eclipsed that in the opening overs.
While it was an impressive display from the 23-year-old, he did have a stroke of luck after Scorchers young gun Cooper Connolly opted not to review a tight LBW call.
Fox Cricket replays later showed Owen would have been sent packing if Perth had reviewed the not out call.
It was a moment the Scorchers would go on to regret.
“The way Josh Inglis appealed and where the match is at the moment, Mitch Owen is the big wicket. It’s a big appeal,” Haddin said at the time.
“If it is a 50-50 you do roll the dice a bit because of where the game is at. You mightn’t get another opportunity.
“That was a big moment.”
Fellow commentator Brendon Julian agreed it was a missed moment for Perth.
“They were shouting – Josh Inglis was very, very confident,” he said.
“Gee, would have gone up. You had to go up then.
“They needed to break that partnership, and if you thought it was 50-50, you would have gone up.”
The 101-run stand between Owen and Shai Hope was eventually broken with the home side needing 23 off 20.
‘DIRTY’ STAR FUMES
Test hopeful Josh Inglis punched the ground in frustration after a horror mix up saw him run out in Saturday’s BBL14 clash with Hobart.
Inglis had been in great touch in his first BBL clash for the season and looked on track to bring up his fifth BBL 50 in just nine matches against Hobart.
But when Ashton Turner sent Inglis back – despite coming a long way down the pitch – Inglis was caught short by Riley Meredith.
The Aussie Test squad member was clearly unhappy with the ordeal as he made his way from the field for 49 off 35.
Inglis denied 50 by ‘puzzling’ run-out | 01:00
“Not happy with that Josh Inglis,” Fox Cricket’s Brendon Julian said.
“He didn’t know whether Ashton Turner was coming.
“He smashed the ground after that.
“He would be dirty … He was giving (Turner) the dirty look back, too.”
Brett Lee described the run out as a “fry up”.
“I think he slipped,” he said of Inglis’ turn.
“He was a bit like the Queen Mary trying to turn … One thing that you can’t do as a non-striker is run three or four steps, gesture like you’re going to run and then say no.”
Former Aussie wicketkeeper Brad Haddin said it was a pure mix up from both players.
“Josh Inglis would be disappointed with himself,” he said.
“He wasn’t quite sure where that ball went.
“I think Ashton Turner initially said yes and he took off, then sent him back.
“He is filthy there, Josh Inglis.
“He thought he was coming so he took off … He called after what looked like three or four steps.”
The run out proved a turning point for the Hurricanes as they restricted the Scorchers to just 27 runs off the final five overs of the contest.
SECOND STRIKE
Scorchers import Finn Allen has fallen second ball once again in bizarre scenes after belting a boundary.
Allen’s BBL debut came with a six, then dismissal and against Hobart on Saturday afternoon his second ball curse rolled on in just his second game for Perth.
After whacking Riley Meredith for four off the opening ball of the BBL14 clash, Hurricane Ben McDermott took a ripping catch behind the stumps to send the Kiwi packing the very next delivery.
“Can you believe it? He’s out second ball again,” Fox Cricket’s Brendon Julian said.
“What a catch!!” former wicketkeeper Brad Haddin added.
“That was outstanding.
“This is as good as it gets from Benny McDermott … to be able to move that well to your left. That athleticism! What a great way to start.”
Follow Hurricanes vs Scorchers in our live blog below!
‘One of the ALL-TIME great catches!’ | 00:53
SQUADS
Hobart Hurricanes: Nathan Ellis (c), Nikhil Chaudhary, Tim David, Peter Hatzoglou, Shai Hope, Caleb Jewell, Chris Jordan, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Mitch Owen, Waqar Salamkheil, Billy Stanlake, Matthew Wade, Charlie Wakim
Perth Scorchers: Ashton Turner (c), Ashton Agar, Finn Allen, Jason Behrendorff, Cooper Connolly, Nick Hobson, Matthew Hurst, Josh Inglis, Keaton Jennings, Matt Kelly, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, Matthew Spoors, Andrew Tye.
Discussion about this post