HOBART Hurricanes broke through for their first Big Bash League (BBL) title in 2024/25, converting a first place finish to deliver Tasmania its first men’s domestic title in over a decade. The ‘Canes unearthed new talent and blew away the competition with a seven-game win streak. We recap their campaign.

>> STATS RECAP: Scorchers pair complete golden season

BY THE NUMBERS

H&A RECORD: 1st | 7-2, 1 NR | -0.120 NRR
MOST RUNS: Mitchell Owen | 452 @ 45.2 | 203.6 SR | 108 HS
MOST WICKETS: Riley Meredith | 16 @ 20.3 | 8.52 economy | 3-27 BB

RESULTS

Home-and-away:

LOSS @ Melbourne Renegades by 6 wickets
WIN vs. Perth Scorchers by 8 wickets
WIN @ Adelaide Strikers by 11 runs
WIN vs. Sydney Sixers by 50 runs
WIN vs. Adelaide Strikers by 5 wickets
NR @ Sydney Thunder
WIN vs. Sydney Thunder by 6 wickets
WIN vs. Melbourne Renegades by 4 wickets
WIN @ Brisbane Heat by 5 wickets
LOSS @ Melbourne Stars by 40 runs

Finals:

Qualifier: WIN vs. Sydney Sixers by 12 runs
Decider: WIN vs. Sydney Thunder by 7 wickets

THE STORY

It was a fairytale season for the Hurricanes, who converted their first place finish into a maiden BBL title. Although, they made an almightily poor start in game one against the Renegades, being bowled out for 74. That result sparked them into action, seven games on the trot en route to securing a finals double chance. They didn’t need it in any case, smothering the Sixers in the Qualifier to set up a home decider. The other Sydney side, the Thunder, was on the receiving end of a historic performance in the final, where Hobart won by seven wickets on home turf thanks to Mitchell Owen‘s 39-ball century.

THE HIGHLIGHT

There was plenty to celebrate this season for the Hurricanes, but the two finals wins were particularly sweet. The first, against the Sixers, served as confirmation that the Cane Train was on track for a breakthrough championship, and that included a raucous Bellerive Oval crowd. They brought the same energy just days later for the decider, as Mitchell Owen (108 off 42) dispatched the Thunder to all parts to set his side up for the seven-wicket victory. The result served as Tasmania’s first men’s domestic title since 2013, when the Tigers took out the Sheffield Shield.

THE LOWLIGHT

Having only suffered two losses for the season, one stands out as the most disappointing. Few would have thought that after being bowled out for 74 by the Melbourne Renegades in game one, that Hobart would go on to win the title. The Hurricanes were 8-40 at one stage as skipper Nathan Ellis (35 off 29) top-scored batting at eight. In a straightforward chase, the Renegades got the job done with six wickets in hand after just nine overs. The result played a large part in Hobart becoming the only team to win the BBL championship with a negative net run rate (-0.120).

THE STAR

Mitchell Owen – 452 runs @ 45.2, 203.6 SR, 100 x2

Arguably the find of BBL|14 was Mitchell Owen. Having only recently been promoted to open for Tasmania, he quickly made an impact atop Hobart’s batting order with a maiden century in just his 12th BBL appearance. Doors would blow wide open for the towering 23-year-old after his famed ton in the final, which helped deliver Hobart its first title. All up, with two centuries and a strike rate of 203.6 to his name, Owen compiled 452 runs in BBL|14. A remarkable 356 of them were dealt in boundaries.

TOP KNOCK

Mitchell Owen – 108 (42) vs. Sydney Thunder @ Bellerive Oval

As has already been mentioned ad nauseam, Mitchell Owen can bat, and did so very well in BBL|14. His twin tons were the Hurricanes’ two highest scores for the season, the first being an unbeaten 101 (64) against the Scorchers. The second came in the final and was the competition’s equal-fastest ever, with Owen bringing up triple-figures in just 39 deliveries. He hit a whopping 11 sixes and six boundaries in the whirlwind innings, putting Hobart in the box seat to chase down Sydney Thunder’s 7-182. The Hurricanes did so with seven wickets and 35 balls to spare.

BEST BOWLING

Chris Jordan – 3-22 (3.3) vs. Sydney Sixers @ Bellerive Oval

Hobart’s marquee international signing, Chris Jordan delivered with his side’s best figures for BBL|14. The bowling allrounder nabbed seven wickets for the season, with three of them coming in a win over Sydney Sixers on New Year’s Day. After the Hurricanes posted 6-161 at Bellerive Oval, Jordan helped roll the magenta men for just 111 in 19.3 overs. He dismissed fellow English international James Vince (11), along with Jordan Silk (20), and took the final wicket of Jackson Bird (3).

CONTRACT STATUS

SIGNED: Iain Carlisle, Nikhil Chaudhary, Nathan Ellis, Caleb Jewell, Chris Jordan, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Mitch Owen, Matthew Wade, Beau Webster, Mac Wright

FREE AGENTS: Tim David, Paddy Dooley, Jake Doran, Peter Hatzoglou, Billy Stanlake, Charlie Wakim

UNCONTRACTED: Shai Hope, Waqar Salamkheil, Marcus Bean, Cameron Gannon, Tim Ward

>> Season recaps: Strikers | Heat | Renegades | Scorchers | Stars | Sixers | Thunder