41-ball ton?! Forgotten Aussie star’s record-breaking knock exposes Ponting’s $510k blunder

Forgotten Australian all-rounder Mitchell Owen has sent a timely reminder to the national selectors of his T20 prowess by smacking the highest individual score in Major League Cricket history on Sunday AEST.

Representing the Washington Freedom, the 24-year-old clobbered 155 from 68 balls against the MI New York at Dallas’ Grand Prairie Stadium on Sunday AEST, a performance that featured 11 boundaries and 13 sixes. It was the third-highest individual score by an Australian in men’s T20s.

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Facing the likes of Trent Boult, Romario Shepherd and Keiron Pollard, the right-hander only needed 41 deliveries to reach triple figures, passing the milestone during the tenth over of the innings. He put on a 134-run opening partnership with captain Steve Smith, who contributed a 21-ball 27.

Owen at one stage looked on track to surpass Chris Gayle’s all-time T20 record, a 175 not out for the Royal Challengers Bangalore during the 2013 Indian Premier League, but he was dismissed with 19 deliveries remaining in the innings by South African seamer Corbin Bosch, who held onto a low return catch.

It comes after Owen hit a 25-ball 61 against the Seattle Orcas during the Freedom’s tournament opener the previous day at the same venue.

Washington, who ultimately posted 5-254 against New York, struggled during the death overs following Owen’s big-hitting masterclass, with veteran all-rounder Glenn Maxwell managing 7 from nine balls, while New South Wales captain Jack Edwards finished unbeaten on 6 from nine deliveries.

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Highest scores by Australians in men’s T20s

172 - Aaron Finch (Australia) vs Zimbabwe in Harare, 2018

156 - Aaron Finch (Australia) vs England in Southampton, 2013

155 - Mitchell Owen (Washington Freedom) vs MI New York in Dallas 2027

154* - Glenn Maxwell (Melbourne Stars) vs Hobart Hurricanes in Melbourne, 2022

Following a breakout Big Bash League campaign with the Hobart Hurricanes in 2024/25, headlined by a match-winning performance during the final against the Sydney Thunder, Owen earned his maiden national call-up last year, playing three ODIs and 15 T20Is for Australia.

However, following a disappointing home summer with the bat, the Tasmanian missed selection for the recent T20 World Cup in the subcontinent along with Australia’s white-ball tours of Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Owen, last year’s MLC player of the tournament, was signed by Ricky Ponting’s Punjab Kings ahead of this season’s IPL for 3 crore (AU$510,000), but he didn’t play a match during tournament, carrying drinks for the franchise. The Kings missed the IPL knockouts after suffering six consecutive losses during the second half of the tournament.

New York never looked like reeling in the 255-run target despite an unbeaten century from Pollard during the run chase, losing by 30 runs after scoring 6-215 from their 20 overs.

The Washington Freedom will next face the Seattle Orcas at the Oakland Coliseum on Friday AEST.

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