Emerging all-rounder Mitchell Owen clobbered the third-fastest fifty in Australian one-day domestic history to set up a monster Tasmanian total against Victoria, whose opening bowler narrowly avoided an unwanted record.
Owen, remarkably, reached a half-century before any of his teammates had even managed a run, setting the tone for Tassie’s first innings total of 381.
The 24-year-old, who made his T20I debut for Australia earlier this year, only needed 20 deliveries to pass fifty against Victoria at Allan Border Field on Friday afternoon, reaching the milestone in the fifth over of the innings. He cracked five boundaries and four sixes during his whirlwind knock.
Incredibly, none of his Tigers teammates had gotten off the mark when Owen celebrated the feat, with Caleb Jewell and Jake Weatherald back in the sheds for a duck, both dismissed by Victorian seamer Cameron McClure.
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The right-hander became McClure’s third victim after attempting another slog in the sixth over, caught at mid-on for 53 (21). Only South Australia’s Jake Fraser-McGurk and Victoria’s Glenn Maxwell have managed faster fifties in the competition’s history.
Owen took a particular liking to Mitchell Perry, with the Victorian quick conceded 48 runs from his opening three overs during the Powerplay.
Perry finished with the figures of 4-101 from 9.3 overs — one run short of Will Sutherland’s 1-102, which remains the most runs conceded by a bowler in an Australian List A innings. Despites his undesirable spell, Perry was asked to bowl the final over of the innings — and took the final two wickets to ensure Tasmania was bowled out for 381, which was the third-highest all-out score in the Australian one-day domestic competition.
Fastest fifties in Australian domestic one-dayers
18 balls — Jake Fraser-McGurk (SA) vs TAS, 2023/24
19 balls — Glenn Maxwell (VIC) vs TAS, 2011/12
20 balls — Mitchell Owen (TAS) vs VIC, 2025/26
21 balls — David Hookes (SA) vs WA, 1990/91
Owen was poised to make his ODI debut during last month’s white-ball campaign against South Africa in northern Queensland, but he was withdrawn from the series due to delayed concussion symptoms.
The Hobart Hurricanes hero, who steered the men in purple towards a maiden BBL title earlier this year, will be hoping to become Australia’s 250th men’s ODI cricketer during next month’s white-ball series against India.
After Owen was dismissed, Beau Webster (81 off 95), Matthew Wade (105 off 68) and Nikhil Chaudhary (67 off 49) dined out on the Victorian attack, with Perry, Sam Elliott (2-82 off 9 overs) and Callum Stow (1-84 off 10) copping the brunt of the brutality.
Paceman Cam McClure (3-50) was the clear pick of the bowlers.
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