Big showings from Southern Storm openers secure win against City Cyclones in game two of the T20 Strike League

Southern Storm captain Mac Wright capped off his eventful Darwin season with a match-winning innings to help his side to a slender two-wicket win over City Cyclones in the 2021 T20 Strike League

Ash Chadrasinghe was part of the Southern Storm side that beat City Cyclones in Strike League game two. Picture: Glenn Campbell

SOUTHERN Storm captain Mac Wright capped off his eventful Darwin season with a match-winning innings to help his side to a tight two-wicket win over City Cyclones in the T20 Strike League on Thursday night.

Wright, who scored dual centuries in the one day competition, carried his fine batting form into the 20-over contest and did not disappoint, the opener finishing with 63 from 45 balls.

It was the last game of the Darwin season for the Hobart Hurricanes player as he now heads back to Tasmania, where he will soon be joined by fellow Storm all-rounder Josh Kann.

The Cylcones batted first, captain Jack Edwards putting his side in a fine position with 44 from 34 balls.

Nick Larkin (29 runs) and Dylan Hunter (25 runs) also got off to strong starts to see their side finish at 7-131.

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Then it was over to Storm’s opening partnership of Wright and Kann (19) who stayed in long enough to put their side in a winnable position, forming a 36-run opening stand.

That run of runs slowed down through the middle order with Hunter dismissing both openers and star allrounder Beau Webster at first drop.

It came down to the final over where Brodie Symons and Blade Baxter needed four runs from the remaining six balls to pull off the win for Storm in their first game.

Baxter, who had picked up two wickets of his own, was on strike facing the third ball when he knocked a four through a gap to win the game and allow his captain to go home on a win.

“We limped over the line at the end there, it was a bit tighter than it needed to be,” Wright said.

Mac Wright finish with 63 from 45 balls in game two of the T20 Strike League. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

“Kann is a guy who I knew had the potential to go on to bigger and better things and he’s been rewarded with the Hurricanes contract.

“I’ve really loved it up here. The first year that this program has been run has been an absolute blast.

“All the staff at Cricket NT have done an amazing job in producing this program and in tough circumstances.

“It’s going to be exciting for the years to come.

“And I would encourage anyone thinking of coming up here to come up because it will really improve your cricket.”

Watch every ball and every wicket of the TIO Strike League. Games are streamed live and exclusive at www.ntnews.com.au