The middle order batter Mitchell Owen has earned his maiden SA20 contract and is set to join Paarl Royals after a stunning campaign at BBL 2024-25.
Owen was the leading run-scorer in 452 runs for the Hobart Hurricanes during the 2024-25 season. His performance was highlighted with a century in the final, coming off just 39 balls which helped Hurricanes to their first title.
Mitch Owen’s batting prowess in the Big Bash final has paid off immediately since Tasmanian secured his first international contract in South Africa, where Marcus Stoinis may have sustained a hamstring injury that migh hamper his Champions Trophy preparation.
Owen will be replacing the England batter Joe Root who left the tournament midway due to internation duty. Root has been named in the ODI squad for the England tour of India 2025 which will be followed by the Champions Trophy 2025.
Paarl Royals and MI Cape Town who were the toppers of the SA20 2025 points table will square off in next week’s qualifier final.
Ricky Ponting was among the good judges to lavish Owen with Praise after his eye-catching knock in the BBL finals.
“There’s not many players in the world that can do that,” told Ponting. He also highlighted discussion of Owen representing Australia in next year’s T20 World Cup was ‘inevitable’.
Meanwhile Marcus Stoinis who is part of the Durban Super Giants in the ongoing edition of the SA20 League was forced to leave the field due to hamstring issue during the match against Paarl Royals where the latter secured a crucial 6 wicket victory. He did not complete his third over.
Despite taking the field again, he left again after getting medical attention from the physio.
“He just felt something in his hamstring,” Maharaj said. “I don’t think it was too serious but obviously the logical thing to do as a fast bowler is to go off the field.”
“So I’m sure the medical staff will assess and then communicate with Cricket Australia. But I think he’ll be okay. He’s a soldier, he’s a fighter and he’s a big unit so I’m sure he’ll be okay,” said Keshav Maharaj.
