Hobart Hurricanes secured a commanding victory over the Perth Scorchers with a sensational performance by Mitch Owen, who hit his maiden century, propelling his team to triumph by eight wickets at Ninja Stadium on December 21, 2024.
Owen’s stunning display with the bat was the centerpiece of the match, as he scored 101 not out off just 64 deliveries, including five sixes and nine fours. This inning was particularly noteworthy, considering Owen had averaged just 12.71 with his highest score being 28 before this standout crash. "It’s very nice. I dreamt of this sitting on the hill as a kid supporting the Hurricanes," Owen remarked after the match, sharing the excitement of his milestone achievement.
The Hurricanes’ victory was even sweeter as it was their first home win against the Scorchers since January 1, 2013. The win came as the team looked to redeem themselves after their disheartening experience against the Melbourne Renegades just two days prior, where they were bowled out for only 74.
Owen was initially positioned higher up the batting order, and this tactical shift paid off as he quickly took to the Scorchers’ bowlers, continuing his aggressive form throughout the innings. Alongside West Indies star Shai Hope, who scored 38 runs off 35 balls, the two formed a formidable second-wicket partnership of 101 runs off 76 deliveries. Their strong cohesiveness on the field translated to successful run chases, with the Hurricanes achieving their target with four balls to spare.
Perth’s innings started modestly with captain Ashton Turner (39 runs off 28 balls) and wicketkeeper Josh Inglis (49 runs off 35 balls) trying to create momentum. They combined for important partnerships, but the turning point came when Inglis was run out due to a miscommunication with Turner, leaving Perth at 4-132. After this, the Scorchers could only muster 23 runs off their final 25 deliveries, finishing with 6-155. Jason Behrendorff, one of the prominent bowlers for Perth, expressed disappointment post-match, stating, "We had a couple of good partnerships with the bat and got to a reasonably competitive score, but I think, maybe, another 10 runs or so would have been ideal."
Hobart’s bowlers performed admirably, with Riley Meredith leading the charge, taking three wickets for 27 runs. Owen’s explosive batting was complemented by Meredith's pinpoint bowling, which kept the Scorchers from establishing any lasting momentum throughout their innings. The Hurricanes took action early with exceptional fielding performances, including Ben McDermott’s outstanding catch to dismiss Finn Allen.
Hurricanes captain Nathan Ellis also contributed defensively, picking up key wickets and ensuring the Scorchers did not capitalize on their earlier partnerships. The match saw the Hurricanes dramatically turn around their performance from the previous game, allowing them to recover from their earlier struggles and demonstrate their potential, which had been concealed by their prior debacle.
The win places Hobart back on track for the season, balancing their record to 1-1, with the team optimistic moving forward. The opposite sentiment lay with the Scorchers, who will need to regroup as they head home to prepare for their upcoming match against the Brisbane Heat.
With the victory, the Hurricanes now have six days before facing the Adelaide Strikers, which will be pivotal for continuing their momentum. On the flip side, the Scorchers will be seeking redemption after their disappointing performance against the Hurricanes.
Overall, this significant win marks not only Mitch Owen’s rise to prominence but also displays the resiliency of the Hobart Hurricanes as they look to build on this performance and challenge for higher honors this season.
