Mitchell Owen Smashes 3rd Fastest 50 in BBL History

The Hobart Hurricanes have put on a display of pure batting brilliance in the Big Bash League (BBL) 2024-25 final against the Sydney Thunder, and leading the charge is none other than Mitchell Owen.

In a stunning display of power hitting, Owen raced to the third-fastest fifty in BBL history, reaching the landmark in just 16 balls. With a target of 183, Owen made it seem like a walk in the park, as he destroyed the Thunder’s bowlers with an onslaught of sixes and boundaries.

Owen’s blistering fifty ties him with Tom Banton for the third-fastest fifty in BBL history, both of them achieving the feat in just 16 balls. However, Owen’s fifty came with more runs than Banton’s, which places him firmly at the third spot in the all-time fastest fifty list. It was also the fastest half-century ever scored in a BBL final and the quickest fifty ever by a Hobart Hurricanes player.

The record for the fastest fifty is still held by Chris Gayle, who hit a 12-ball fifty against the Adelaide Strikers in 2016. Dan Christian follows with a 15-ball half-century, also against the Strikers, in 2020. Banton’s 16-ball fifty in 2020 came against the Thunder, while Ben Cutting joins the list with a 17-ball fifty against the Melbourne Stars in 2019.

Owen’s blitzkrieg didn’t stop at his personal milestone. The Hurricanes reached their team century in just six overs, a feat made possible by Owen’s destructive stroke play. His strike rate at one point was nearly 300, leaving the Thunder bowlers searching for answers. Despite all the permutations and combinations attempted by Thunder’s skipper, David Warner, nothing seemed to work against Owen’s onslaught.

Fastest 50s in Big Bash League history:

Player	Balls	Match	Date
CH Gayle	12	Renegades v Strikers	18 January 2016
DT Christian	15	Sixers v Strikers	20 December 2020
Mitchell Owen	16	Hurricanes v Thunder	27 January 2025
T Banton	16	Heat v Thunder	06 January 2020
BCJ Cutting	17	Heat v Stars	08 February 2019
N Pooran	17	Stars v Sixers	26 December 2020
Chris Jordan	17	Hurricanes v Scorchers	20 December 2023
TP Ludeman	18	Strikers v Stars	18 December 2014
CA Lynn	18	Heat v Hurricanes	15 January 2015
BB McCullum	18	Heat v Renegades	20 January 2017
Laurie Evans	18	Scorchers v Strikers	03 January 2024
CA Lynn	19	Heat v Stars	14 January 2016