Local team halts 'Cane Train in Strike League final

A local Northern Territory team has caused a remarkable upset in Darwin, defeating the Hobart Hurricanes in the final of the NT Strike League.

The Hurricanes qualified for the final against the Desert Blaze at Marrara Oval undefeated through eight starts in the Top End.

Highly favoured in the deciding game of the tournament, the visitors were bowled out for 102 in 19.2 overs before the Desert Blaze cruised to an eight-wicket victory.

The Hurricanes’ big names failed to fire on a warm Darwin evening. A day after scoring a 52-ball century, Alex Doolan was dismissed for a duck as Caleb Jewell top-scored with a run-a-ball 28.

Defending a modest total, Riley Meredith went wicketless from his four overs, despite entering the final as the leading wicket-taker of the tournament.

Big Bash talent didn’t go completely unrewarded. The Sydney Thunder’s Gurinder Sandhu took 3-12 for the Blaze, before the Jordan Silk of the Sydney Sixers hit Jarrod Freeman to the boundary to score the winning runs and finish unbeaten on 26.

The campaign marks the second time the Hurricanes have featured in the Northern Territory’s premier T20 league.

The competition received widespread attention last season when David Warner and Cameron Bancroft spent time with the Desert Blaze and City Cyclones respectively.