Mitch Owen described winning the Hobart Hurricanes' first Big Bash League title as a "childhood dream" following their win over the Sydney Thunder in the final.

Owen led the Hurricanes to a seven-wicket victory at the Ninja Stadium, notching 108 runs from 42 deliveries, bringing up his century in the showpiece after just 39 balls. 

The 23-year-old eventually fell to Tom Andrews (1-30) in the 11th over, but Matthew Wade (32 not out) and Ben McDermott (18 not out) steered their side to victory. 

Across this year's tournament, Owen scored a boundary once every 3.3 balls in the BBL, the most frequent of any player in a single season in the competition's history. 

"So surreal," Owen told Fox Cricket. "To be here and hear them chanting my name, it hasn't quite sunk in, but it's amazing, and I'm so grateful for it.

"All I wanted to do was lift that trophy. I was actually disappointed to get out. 

"I wanted to be able to hit the winning runs and get us home a little bit easier, so I didn't have to sit there a bit nervous. 

"But it's super special, it's a childhood dream, and I'm so grateful."

3.3 - Mitchell Owen (@HurricanesBBL) has scored a boundary once every 3.3 balls faced in #BBL14 - the most frequent of any player in a single season in @BBL history (min. 100 balls faced). Brisk. pic.twitter.com/JnhTL9s7nd

— OptaJason (@OptaJason) January 27, 2025

Owen has transformed from a middle-order batter to a T20 opener, with his performances in the BBL season certain to attract attention from cricket fans across the world. 

In fact, his century against the Thunder was the joint-quickest in BBL history, with Craig Simmons also reaching a hundred runs from 39 deliveries for the Perth Scorchers in 2014. 

He also finished the competition with 452 runs from 11 innings at a strike rate of 203.60, the highest of any player this season, with David Warner coming in second on 405.

"I think feeling backed by [coach] Jeff [Vaughan] and Nath [Ellis], and the whole team really, that's quite powerful," he said.

"I was just super clear when I went out there, I knew what I wanted to do and needed to do, and I was lucky enough it paid off."

Owen's team-mates were also quick to laud his display on Monday, with captain Nathan Ellis recalling training with the 23-year-old at the start of his career. 

"I said the Scorchers innings was a coming-of-age innings; I think today he went up another level," Ellis told Fox Cricket.

"I was bowling to a 15, 16-year-old Mitch Owen in the indoor nets here at Tassie when I first moved down, and to be a part of his journey, and also to captain him and win a title with him, is something that I'll never forget, hopefully he'll never forget.

"I'm just super proud and excited about not only tonight but what's to come for him."