HH vs ST

10:40 PM local time (5:10 PM IST): So, it is the Hobart Hurricanes that won the BBL 24/25 title after 44 games, and what a way to win a maiden title than with the home crowd at Ninja Stadium in Hobart, Tasmania. The tournament has given a whole lot of moments to relish that ended with the stupendous century from Mitchell Owen in the summit clash. With that, I, Keshav, and my colleague, Bidipto, bid you goodbye. See you soon again!

The winning captain Nathan Ellis collects the coveted trophy after 44 games held across Australia over one and a half months. And the other Hurricanes players rush to celebrate with their captain in front of the jam packed home crowd here at Ninja Stadium. They finished on top of the table in the league stage with 15 points from 10 games and then went on to win the Qualifier against Sydney Sixers. It was followed by an epic innings from Mitchell Owen in the summit clash against the Sydney Thunder.

Nathan Ellis (Hobart Hurricanes captain): I think Mitchy summed it up. Pretty surreal at the moment. First and foremost, I would like to congratulate the Thunder, what a brave season. You scraped all the way here, so you should be proud of yourselves. See you again next year. I would like to thank the sponsors in Ninja, Wilson and Redzed. I want to thank the boys. I have said it earlier that all of you guys as a team this year, the only word I can come up with is proud. We played some bloody brilliant cricket this year and we deserved to be here tonight. And obviously I can't go without thanking the Hobart faithful. This one is for all the cricket fans in Tasmania. Tasmanian cricket has changed my life. I feel really honoured to be a part of your first championship. This one is for you guys, all the past players and everyone who has been involved in the Hurricanes. I am not gonna stand here and say that it was me that it was me who ran that ship all year around and got us here. We have a really amazing staff and a really amazing leadership group and a lot of experience in our side. We had moments where all members of our squad stood up throughout the tournament. As a captain I feel really lucky to have this group. I feel really happy and honoured.

David Warner (Sydney Thunder captain): First and foremost, congratulations to Hobart Hurricanes, Nathan Ellis and of course, Mitchell Owen! What a stupendous knock in a final! I want to congratulate our boys! They did everything they could to get to this stage. And also, the crowd tonight! Excellent crowd, just a superb atmosphere! I tried to make my energy infectious having played so much internationally, and I hope one of us from the team can clinch this trophy going along. Hope to come back stronger next year and win this trophy, preferably against the Hurricanes! 

Mitchell Owen (Player of the Match, 108 runs off 42 balls): It's an amazing feeling! I'm kind of lost for words! You guys in the crowd have got it going for us, thanks a lot! Those shots early on in the 2nd innings feels a long time ago! But I was just trying to take the attack to the opposition bowling and am glad that it came off! 

Riley Meredith: To do it in front of this crowd tonight was really, really special! Mitch Owen played a knock for the ages. That knock will go down as one of the best ever in this format. The celebrations will be big! We will reflect on it for sure! I've been a fan of this team since the first season, so to do it with them is unbelievable! 

Ben McDermott: I think this win is because of Mitchell Owen only! I thought he will get it done for us! But he was special. Well we sat down at the start of the tournament and decided upon our style of play. As for the crowd here, it's been the best atmosphere I've been part of. But Mitch was the difference tonight! 

Matthew Wade: We've waited a lot for this! We've been disappointed with our performances over the years, but yes, this is it! We were rolled for 75 in our opening game, but then, things have turned big time! The decision to make Mitch Owen open the batting was the masterstroke. What an atmosphere this is for us! 

10:10 PM local time (4:40 PM IST): HOBART HURRICANES HAVE CLINCHED THEIR MAIDEN BBL TITLE AFTER 14 YEARS in the 22/25 SEASON

Match Summary: Hobart Hurricanes: 185/3 (14.1 overs) | Sydney Thunder: 182/7 (20 overs)

Mitchell Owen: 108 (42) | Tanveer Sangha: 2/43 (4)
Jason Sangha: 67 (42) | Nathan Ellis: 3/23 (4)

That was absolute carnage from Mitchell Owen to make the Thunder bowlers feel lost and it was extraordinary to leave the best for the finals of the Big Bash League 24/25. With his firepower innings, he kicked the required rate and the number of deliveries left out of the equation and made the Thunder bowlers look like some Sunday cricket league team.

The Hobart Hurricanes got the ideal start in terms of runs as a result of some poor bowling couple with some luck and Mitchell Owen's power-hitting. After the first four overs, the Hurricanes were 74/0 and kept on cruising even with more fielders in the deep as Owen threw enough power into his shots to make sure that the ball sailed over those fielders into the stands.

The first wicket came only after the Hurricanes crosses 100 runs in the eighth over. And the first wicket brought another as Caleb Jewell and Nikhil Chaudhary departed in quick succession. But, Mitchell Owen standing on the other end was unperturbed by these two wickets and kept hitting on the leg-side. He ended up with a century at a strike rate over 250 that included 6 fours and 11 sixes.

Owen got dismissed against Andrews in the 11th over with 43 runs needed and the job was nearly done and it was just about furnishing the formalities with Wade and McDermott in the middle. They opted for the Power Surge and chased down the target to grip the trophy for the first time with 35 many balls remaining.

14.1 Nathan McAndrew to Ben McDermott, over the wicket, FOUR RUNS! AND THAT WILL BE IT FOR SURE! WHAT A MOMENT IT IS FOR HOBART! WHAT A MOMENT IT IS FOR TASMANIA! HOBART HURRICANES ARE THE BBL CHAMPIONS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THIS TOURNAMENT'S HISTORY! Full and slightly slow around off-stump. McDermott moves across, opens up his stance and lap-scoops it to the right of short fine-leg for a boundary to send the crowd into a frenzy! 

Arghh, we will have to wait for a delivery or two for the Hurricanes to chase the target. They are just two runs away from clinching the title and the deliveries are not even in the equation. 

13.5 Wes Agar to Matthew Wade, FOUR MORE! Full toss outside leg-stump. Wade makes more room and creams it through extra cover to pick up a boundary! Only 2 runs to win now! 

13.3 Wes Agar to Matthew Wade, SIX RUNS! Short and slow on leg-stump. Wade backs away and swivels to pull it hard over deep square-leg for a maximum! 

13.2 Wes Agar to Matthew Wade, good length slower ball on the legs. Clipped away to the deep mid-wicket region off the pads for a well-run two!