Mitchell Owen Shines in Debut Against West Indies T20s

Kingston, Jamaica (Jul 21) — Mitchell Owen made a memorable international debut, contributing significantly with both bat and ball to guide Australia to a three-wicket win in the opening match of the Twenty20 series against the West Indies. Owen struck a half-century and took a crucial wicket, helping Australia chase down a 190-run target with seven balls to spare on Sunday.

Partnering with Cameron Green, who blazed 51 runs off 26 balls, Owen participated in a pivotal 80-run stand for the fifth wicket off just 40 deliveries, steering Australia back on track after a few early stumbles. The West Indies had set a challenging total of 189-8, after a shaky finish that saw them lose four crucial wickets for just five runs in the last nine deliveries of their innings.

Australian pacer Ben Dwarshuis was instrumental with the ball, delivering a career-best performance of 4-36. His deadly spell included three wickets in the space of just four deliveries. Jason Holder managed to fend off a hat-trick delivery but was dismissed by Dwarshuis on the very next ball, impacting the West Indies’ momentum in the penultimate over.

Roston Chase was the standout performer for the West Indies, scoring an explosive 60 off 32 balls, forming a robust 91-run second-wicket partnership with Shai Hope, who himself contributed a well-crafted 55. Chase's innings was cut short when he was caught in the deep, courtesy of Dwarshuis.

This victory gives Australia a promising start in the five-match T20 series, following their sweeping success in the Test series. Owen's debut places him among a distinguished cadre of Australian cricketers, joining the likes of David Warner and Ricky Ponting, who have also scored half-centuries on debut in this format.

Owen, known for his aggressive style in the domestic T20 league with the Hobart Hurricanes, expressed his contentment saying, “Firstly happy we got the win — it was nice to contribute. Just nice to be mentioned with those class players.”

The 23-year-old allrounder's debut innings was marked by a striking six; his very first scoring shot sent Andre Russell's delivery straight down the ground. He showcased his power hitting with another six on the last ball of that over. Owen faced Akeal Hosein, hitting three sixes in a 20-run over, surviving a dropped catch while on 26.

Owen had a narrow escape on 42 runs when a Cameron Green drive almost resulted in a run-out as it ricocheted off Gudakesh Motie’s hand onto the stumps. However, upon review, it was deemed not out. Green reached his half-century off 25 balls with a six and a four but was caught in the next ball, leaving Owen and the team close to the target.

Owen scored 50 off 27 deliveries before being caught in the deep, bringing Australia almost to the brink of victory with 15 runs needed from 21 balls. His debut notable for his key wickets as well, Owen's first bowl in international cricket saw Shimron Hetmyer send the ball for a spectacular six, but Owen redeemed himself by dismissing Hope, who misjudged a slower ball.

Australia's captain Mitch Marsh praised Owen’s debut performance, remarking, “Fantastic. Any time you get a young kid that comes in and performs like that in his first game for Australia, it's always really exciting. I’m sure there'll be lots of people back home who watched that and will be really excited. So we're pumped for him.”

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