Mitchell Owen Shines on Debut as Australia Edge West Indies in T20 Series Opener

Mitchell Owen couldn’t have scripted it better. On his international debut, the 22-year-old all-rounder smashed a blistering half-century and picked up a wicket, steering Australia to a nerve-wracking three-wicket win over West Indies in the first T20I in Hobart.

Backed by a fiery 80-run stand with Cameron Green and some late-innings damage from Ben Dwarshuis, Australia chased down 190 with seven balls left, sealing the win in style and taking a 1–0 lead in the five-match series.

Owen and Green Turn the Game on Its Head

At 87 for 4, the chase was wobbly.

Enter Owen and Green. Both right-handers unleashed a counterattack that flattened West Indies’ hopes in minutes. Green blazed his way to 51 off just 26 deliveries, while Owen, playing with the flair of a seasoned pro, struck 54 in just 30 balls.

The pair shifted the momentum rapidly. Owen’s standout moment came when he smashed Akeal Hosein for three sixes in a single over. Hosein’s 17th over went for 20 runs, effectively breaking the back of the chase.

Green fell soon after reaching his fifty, but Owen continued the assault before eventually falling, leaving the rest to mop up the remaining runs.

What a statement on debut.

Dwarshuis Makes His Mark with Career-Best Spell

Before Owen stole the headlines, it was Ben Dwarshuis who put the brakes on a dangerous West Indies innings.

With four wickets for 36 runs, Dwarshuis produced his best figures in T20 internationals. And the timing couldn’t have been better—he ripped through the tail just when the visitors looked set for a 200-plus total.

Three wickets in four balls turned the tide. Jason Holder survived the hat-trick delivery, but fell the very next ball. It was clinical.

Here’s how Dwarshuis’ four-wicket burst unfolded:

• 18.4 overs: Wicket – Sherfane Rutherford bowled

• 18.5 overs: Wicket – Akeal Hosein caught

• 18.6 overs: Dot – Hat-trick denied

• 19.1 overs: Wicket – Jason Holder out

That spell gave Australia a manageable target, one they chased with flair.

West Indies Collapse After Strong Start

It wasn’t all doom and gloom for West Indies. In fact, they started brightly.

After being asked to bat first, openers got them off to a flyer. The real push came from the second-wicket pair, with Roston Chase and Shai Hope hammering 91 off just 53 balls.

Hope played the anchor role, making 55, while Chase looked set to take it deep, belting 60 off just 32 balls, with six boundaries and four sixes. But then came the slide.

From 184-4 in the 18th over, they stumbled to 189-8, losing four wickets for just five runs in the final nine balls.

That slump, caused mainly by Dwarshuis, left them short of a par score on a flat surface.

Owen’s Debut Brings Fresh Energy to Aussie Lineup

Owen’s arrival brings much-needed depth to Australia’s white-ball mix.

He’s got the build of a modern all-rounder—clean hitter, handy seamer, calm under pressure. On Sunday, he ticked all three boxes.

His bowling was tidy. He took one wicket, holding his nerve and finding enough control in his short spells. But it was with the bat that he dazzled.

In a high-pressure chase, with the hosts four down and needing over 10 per over, he came in and batted with total freedom. His six-hitting power stood out, especially against spin.

For Australia, it opens up options. Owen could become that X-factor they’ve lacked since Shane Watson’s retirement—a true seam-bowling middle-order basher.

Series Outlook and What Comes Next

With this win, Australia are riding high.

They swept West Indies 3–0 in the recent Test series. Now, with a confident start in the T20 leg, the team has all the momentum. The second T20I will be played on Wednesday at the same venue.

Meanwhile, West Indies will be ruing a missed opportunity. Their top order clicked, but the finish let them down badly. Fixing the death overs—both in batting and bowling—will be key if they’re to stay in the hunt.

Here’s a quick look at the series status:

One game down, four to go. If the opener was any sign, this series could be fireworks.