The 23-year-old Australian all-rounder, Mitchell Owen, made the unique record of becaming the first player in men’s T20I history to score a fifty and take a wicket on debut against a full-member nation. Owen achieved the feat against the West Indies at Kingston, Jamaica, on Sunday, helping Australia seal a three-wicket win with seven balls to spare. Coming in to bowl during the first innings, Owen conceded just 14 runs in his two overs. He dismissed the West Indies captain Shai Hope, who had earlier top-scored with a 39-ball 55. Hope’s wicket came at a crucial time, restricting West Indies to 167 for 6. Chasing 168, Australia looked unsettled at 78 for 4 in the 9th over. Walking in at No. 6, Owen joined Cameron Green and stitched a fast-paced 80-run stand off 40 deliveries. Owen reached his fifty in 27 balls before being dismissed by Alzarri Joseph. Green contributed with 51 off 26. The visitors wrapped up the chase at 170 for 7. Read also: Indian Cricketers Meet Manchester United Players Before 4th Test Rare feats and elite company Owen’s performance placed him among elite company. He became the second cricketer from a full-member nation to take a wicket and score a fifty on T20I debut — after Ireland’s Simi Singh, who did so against the Netherlands in 2018. He is also just the second batter from a full-member side to hit a half-century on debut from No. 6 or lower. The first was England’s Phil Salt, who made 57 off 24 against the West Indies in 2022. Only two other Australians — Ricky Ponting and David Warner — have scored fifties on T20I debut. Owen now joins that list. Before his debut, Owen played a key role in Hobart Hurricanes’ BBL 2024-25 title run, scoring 452 runs and taking six wickets in 11 matches, including a century in the final. His form also earned him a short IPL stint with Punjab Kings as a mid-season replacement for Glenn Maxwell. Owen is now one of just 20 players worldwide to have scored a fifty and taken a wicket in their T20I debut.