Australian power-hitter Mitch Owen has taken a sledgehammer to Major League Cricket.
Owen struck a mesmerising 155 off just 68 balls, dismantling MI New York while playing for the Washington Freedom on Sunday (AEDT).
The highlight-heavy display included 11 fours and 13 towering sixes at Grand Prairie Stadium.
The right-hander rose to stardom two seasons ago when he played a spectacular hand for the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League final.
That innings led to Owen, 24, making 18 international appearances for Australia.
Owen put on 134 from 57 balls with opener Steve Smith and 82 from 35 balls with New Zealander Mark Chapman.
If Owen’s range hitting wasn’t already enough pain for MI New York – which sent the Freedom in – Glenn Maxwell walked out to bat at No. 4
Owen finished in third for the highest Twenty20 scores hit by an Australian, behind only Aaron Finch’s 156 and 175 in 2013 and 2018 respectively.
He was dismissed with 19 balls left in the innings.
The New York attack featured well-known Twenty20 bowlers Trent Boult and Kieron Pollard.
Owen was eventually dismissed by South African Corbin Bosch, who claimed a low catch off his own bowling.
Australia overlooked Owen for this year’s Twenty20 World Cup and he was not selected for any of the recent white-ball matches in the subcontinent.
Originally published as Mitch Owen hammers a historic century in US Major League Cricket