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Backed by Ricky Ponting to play Champions Trophy 2025, Australia's 23-year-old opener smashes 69-ball 149 in just 20 overs of run chase

Mitch Owen who smashed a century in BBL 2024-25 final, whacked 10 sixes in his 49-ball 169 for Tasmania against Nathan McSweeney's South Australia.

Arun Rawal

• Sun • 23 Feb 2025

Mitchell Owen of the Tasmanian Tigers celebrates bringing up his century during the One-Day match against South Australia at Adelaide Oval, on February 23, 2025.

Highlights:

Mitch Owen reached his fifty in just five overs.

Owen completed his maiden List A century from just 48 balls.

Owen smashed 10 sixes in his whirlwind 149-run knock.

23-year-old Mitchell Owen sent a message to Australian selectors as he went berserk with a 69-ball 149 in the ongoing Australia Domestic One-Day Cup 2024-25. At Adelaide Oval, Owen batted as if he is playing a T20 match. The century came after Josh Inglis' unbeaten 120 helped Australia pull off record-breaking run chase against England in their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign opener.

Earlier, Ponting had backed Owen as injured Mitchell Marsh's replacement. Owen scored a match-winning century in the Big Bash League (BBL) 2024-25 final for Hobart Hurricanes. He also finished as the leading run-scorer of the tournament.

South Australia's Mackenzie Harvey scored 129 as South Australia posted 329//9 on the board after Tasmania captain Jordan Silk opted to bowl first. Owen was expensive with the ball conceding 53 runs from six overs and took the wicket of South Australia captain Nathan McSweeney.

Owen's explosive knock

In the run chase, Owen made a statement straightaway with two fours and a six. Owen scored three fours in a row in the second over. In the fifth over, he reached his fifty from just 17 balls. Caleb Jewell and Beau Webster departed for single-digit scores but it did not have much effect on Owen's scoring rate. Tasmania crossed the 100-run mark in the 11th over.Tim Ward returned to the pavillion after contributing with a run-a-ball 25. Owen reached his century with a maximum in the 16th over. He took just 48 deliveries to reach three figures. This is his maiden century in the format.

On the last ball of the 20th over, Wes Agar knocked over Owen. His blazing 149-run knock was laced with 14 fours and 10 sixes. Tasmania's score was 197/4 when he got out. They needed 133 more runs from the remaining 30 overs.

Tasmania struggle but get over the line

A few overs later, Jake Doran fell to Henry Thornton. Captain Jordan Silk and Charlie Wakin shared a 64-run partnership. Leg-spinner Lloyd Pope broke the partnership with Silk's wicket. The skipper scored 32 runs from 35 balls. He dismissed Nivethan Radhakrishnan off the next ball as Tasmania lost seven wickets for 281.

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Charlie Wakim lost his wicket in the 39th over to Thornton. He was dismissed for a 59-ball 49. Prestwidge and Tom Rogers played with patience and ensured Tasmania get over the line with an over to spare.

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Ponting backed Owen to replace Marsh

“I don’t know if you guys have been watching the BBL (Big Bash League), but we’ve had one young kid that’s just emerged out of nowhere, a kid called Mitch Owen, who has opened the batting for the Hobart Hurricanes.," Ponting told the ICC review.

“He’s also an all-rounder, probably more suited (as a replacement for Marsh).

“I mean, Mitch Marsh has batted in the top three in one-day cricket, mostly in the last couple of years anyway.

“Mitch Owen has opened the batting in T20 cricket and opened the batting for Tasmania in the (domestic ODI competition) Marsh Cup this season.

“Look, honestly, I’d be surprised if it is him, but I think the selectors now know that there is a really high-quality replacement there.”