Mitch Owen equals Ricky Ponting and David Warner with historic feat on Aussie debut
Owen was named man of the match in his first game in the national colours of Australia, with the 23-year-old belting six sixes in his eye-catching 50 (off 27 balls) in Kingston. Owen and Cameron Green combined for a match-defining 80-run stand for the Aussies, who chased down the Windies' 8-189 with seven balls to spare after slumping to 4-78 in the ninth over.
The stunning fifth-wicket stand from Owen and Green changed the complexion of the run chase after Australia's top order fell cheaply. Skipper Mitch Marsh (24 from 17), Josh Inglis (18 from 8), Glenn Maxwell (11 from 10) and Jake Fraser-McGurk (2 from 7) were all dismissed inside nine overs to leave the Windies in the driving seat after Roston Chase (60 from 32) and captain Shai Hope (55 from 39) helped the hosts set a competitive total.
Mitch Owen emulates Aussie greats in historic knock
But Owen - who earnt his national call-up after a record-equalling 39-ball century for the Hurricanes in last January's BBL final - showed exactly why he's been earmarked as a star of the future. The Tassie all-rounder got off the mark with a big six over mid-off to open his account for Australia in style.
And in combination with Green - who hit five sixes in his own half century (51 off 26) - the pair blasted 80 runs in less than six overs to change the course of the game. They took the total to 4-158 in the 15th over before Green was caught out the very next ball after bringing up his 50.
Owen kept up the assault and brought up his historic half century with another big six but was also caught out off the next ball when he skied one to mid-on. The damage had largely been done though, as Owen emulated Aussie greats Ponting and Warner as the only men to score half centuries on their T20 debuts for Australia.
50 on his Australian debut 🙌You're the man, Mitch Owen 👏 #WIvAUS pic.twitter.com/XKdlpyKNww
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) July 21, 2025
Great response 👏
— cricFusion Aashi (@cricket_x_Ashi) July 21, 2025
Mitchell Owen's debut was box-office stuff-• Power-hitting masterclass: 50 off 27 with six sixes•Smart with the ball: Removed the dangerous Shai Hope.At 23, he's ticking all the T20 boxes — future star loading! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/97lK6AR8V1
— Rafi (@rafi4999) July 21, 2025
Congrats Owen 👏🏻
— SportyCinema (@CinemaSporty) July 21, 2025
MITCHELL OWEN HAS ARRIVED IN INTERNATIONAL CRICKET...!!!- Coming to bat at 6.- Scored 50(27) with 6 sixes.- Wicket of Shai Hope.A Package in T20I, he is just 23 years old, big future 👌 pic.twitter.com/TZlpTVo8Sg
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 21, 2025
Aussies survive late scare to clinch three-wicket win
Despite the batting heroics of Owen and Green, it was a tense finish for Australia, who required just seven runs from 13 balls left when Sean Abbott was dropped on the boundary. It would have left the Aussies eight wickets down and facing an even more nervous chase but the massive let-off gave the visitors breathing space and they were able to wrap up the three-wicket victory.
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Paceman Ben Dwarshuis was the pick of the bowlers for Australia after claiming a career-best 4-36 that featured three wickets in four balls. Chase and Windies skipper Hope led the way with the bat after notching half centuries for the home side, while Shimorn Hetmyer chipped in with a vital late 39 from 18.
Dwarshuis and spinner Cooper Connolly (1-24 from two overs) were the only two Aussies to pick up wickets inside the first 15 overs but the tourists rallied with 6-37 in the last five overs. Dwarshuis set up a hat-trick after grabbing back-to-back wickets in the penultimate over of the innings, which was his fourth and final over.
Jason Holder successfully defended the West Australian's hat-trick ball but caught on the boundary the very next ball to hand the Aussie his career-best figures. The series continues on Wednesday in Kingston before three games in St Kitts on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday (all times AEDT).
MITCH OWEN 50 ON DEBUT!! 💪What a start in Aussie colours it has been for the Hobart Hurricanes star!! 🌪️Catch every ball of Australia's tour of the West Indies live on ESPN on #disneyplusau / #disneyplusnz 📺 pic.twitter.com/A62oUJX7mB
— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) July 21, 2025
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