Match Center

Well then, that is it from the BBL 14 Final and another exciting and fascinating season of the Big Bash League has come to and end and we have now seen 7 different franchises lift the trophy with just Melbourne Stars still searching for that elusive title. What a journey it has been for Hobart Hurricanes and their fans, who came out in numbers and absolutely tore the roof down in the Final. We hope that you enjoyed our coverage and hope to see you guys in the next season. Until then, take care and goodbye!

Right then, all done and dusted and there's just one more thing left to do. Nathan Ellis gets back onto the podium and receives that coveted BBL Trophy as his teammates then join him and the players celebrate wildly amidst all the fireworks.

Nathan Ellis, the skipper of Hobart Hurricanes is the last one to collect his medal and comes up for a chat. He begins by saying that it feels pretty surreal and goes on to appreciate Mitchell Owen for his thunderous batting. Congratulates Sydney Thunder for playing brave cricket throughout the season and says there's no doubt that the Thunder have gone through some real challenges but still put up a brave fight. Credits his teammates for performing well all season long. Says he is proud of his men and adds they did play some really good cricket. Thanks the supporters of the Hobart Hurricanes for being faithful through the years, and dedicates this championship to all the fans of cricket in Tasmania. Says it has changed his life and mentions it is for the players of the past and the present. Further adds that they have really amazing staff with a lot of experience and ends by saying everyone stood up at some point.

Next up, the Match Referee, Kepler Wessels comes up on stage and receives the mementos on behalf of all the match officials. After this, the players from the winning Hurricanes' side come up to the stage one by one and receive their championship medals from the young mascots.

David Warner, the skipper of Sydney Thunder congratulates Hurricanes and applauds the knock from Mitchell Owen and says as a player nobody would like to be on the receiving end. Mentions the players for putting in so much effort to come this far and appreciates the crowd for supporting them throughout the season. Adds that he tries to keep the energy up and says that the group and backend staff make it all worthwhile and they as a team will look to come back stronger next season and hopefully win the trophy.

Mitchell Owen is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his final-winning century. He receives a huge round of applause from the crowd. He says the feeling is amazing and he is kind of lost for words. He thanks the crowd for really getting out there to which he again gets a huge cheer. Adds that he tried to do what he did all this season, to go big early on and ease up the chase. He then receives the medal and wears it with a huge smile.

Right then, let's now head to the presentation ceremony...

Riley Meredith is the next one in for a chat. He says it feels like a long time coming and feels special to do this in front of the home crowd. He appreciates Owen and says his batting was outrageous, and calls it a special knock from a special player. Adds that everyone's really tight-knit and family oriented and it means a lot to everyone. With delight on his face, Meredith says that he has been a hardcore fan of the Hobart Hurricanes since the inaugural BBL season.

Ben McDermott, who hit the winning runs, says that he thought Owen would finish things off in just 50 balls and lauds him for being exceptional throughout the tournament. Says that they have managed to put up some big teams over the years but this year, it just seemed different and the atmosphere out in the stadium is simply unreal.

Matthew Wade is the first one up for a quick chat. He says this win means a lot and after not performing the way they wanted to in the past few years, it feels special. Adds that after the first game, there were a lot of questions asked but the way the coaching staff managed and turned things around, especially with Mitchell Owen at the top is exceptional. Appreciates the support from the crowd.

Let's now hear from a few players of the BBL 14 winning side...

Hobart Hurricanes have witnessed heartbreak in the BBL final on a couple of occasions and almost always have a competitive squad that just lacks that team effort but this season, the vibe was different. They started off solidly at home and made the Ninja Stadium a fortress with some aggressive cricket with both bat and ball. The final was no different and it was their superstar at the top, Mitchell Owen who made a massive 108 runs off 42 balls, equalling the fastest century ever in the BBL and made a mockery of the bowling attack. Two former Hurricanes skippers, Matthew Wade and Ben McDermott then added the finishing touches and sealed victory in the Grand Finale in style.

Sydney Thunder went into the break hopeful that runs on the board would count for something given that it was a Final but were taken to the cleaners by one batter and conceded 74 runs in the first 4 overs which was the Powerplay. This really pegged them back and they needed a big come back to have a shot. They did get some hope as Tanveer Sangha picked up a couple of wickets but with the dew setting in and so many runs also knocked off, the Thunder simply didn't have much of a chance to get back into the game.

It was a topsy-turvy first innings of the final with the Thunder's opening pair of David Warner and Jason Sangha putting on 97 runs for the first wicket but things changed quickly after the halfway mark. Led by their prolific skipper, Nathan Ellis, the Hurricanes pulled things back brilliantly and brought the scoring rate right down. However, the Thunder managed to end on a high with the bat and got over 180 runs which was certainly par looking at this season.

With the highest-ever BBL chase at this venue being 177 runs, the Hurricanes needed something special at the top to gun down 183 runs and they got just that courtesy of Mitchell Owen who has been a revelation this whole season and has made 180-plus look like 140 odd with a phenomenal ton in the biggest game of his career so far.

HOBART HURRICANES ARE BBL CHAMPIONS FOR THE FIRST TIME! One of the biggest sporting moments for the whole of Tasmania and the Hurricanes have pulled off one of the most demolishing run chases in a final ever. Spare a thought though for Sydney Thunder who fought so hard to get to this stage, on the back of so many injuries but they have just run out of steam at the final hurdle.

FOUR! HOBART HURRICANES ARE THE BBL 14 CHAMPIONS! McDermott scores the winning runs for the Hobart Hurricanes! They clinch the trophy for the first-ever time! The Ninja Stadium erupts in joy and admiration for their home team! Nathan McAndrew bowls it fuller on the stumps, Ben McDermott shuffles across, uses the pace of the ball, and laps it over the short fine fielder for a boundary. Ben McDermott raises his hands up and all the Hurricanes players steam out to the middle in delight! Matthew Wade kneels down and raises his bat towards the sky, looking absolutely content. Hobart Hurricanes maintain their unbeaten run at their home ground and they have demolished Sydney Thunder's bowling attack in style! What a moment!