NTS vs ACT Fantasy Prediction, 13th Match: Northern Territory Strike vs ACT Comets Fantasy Team, Playing XI, Pitch Report, Top End T20 Series 2026

Northern Territory Strike have won two of three and lead this fixture 2-0. ACT Comets have lost both their matches, were bowled out for 86 by New Zealand A, and carry a 10 percent win rate across their last 10 outings. These results make the NTS vs ACT Fantasy Team an important consideration for fantasy cricket players. D’Arcy Short captains the hosts at DXC Arena No 2, a third Darwin venue for this tournament.

NTS vs ACT Match Details

Match: Northern Territory Strike vs ACT Comets, 13th T20, Study NT Top End T20 Series 2026
Date: Tuesday, 25 August 2026
Time: 10:00 AM Local Time (6:00 AM IST)
Venue: DXC Arena No 2, Darwin
Live Streaming in India: FanCode

Recent Form

Northern Territory Strike have made a solid start. They beat Nepal A comfortably in the tournament’s third match, chasing 123 in 15 overs for the loss of two wickets, and followed it with a 12 run win over HH Kingsmen Academy, posting 164/5 and restricting the Kingsmen to 152/6.

The one setback came against Adelaide Strikers Academy, who made 165 and bowled NT Strike out for 134.

ACT Comets have had a difficult tournament. They opened with a defeat to HH Kingsmen Academy, posting 132/9 and watching the Kingsmen chase it in 18.1 overs. Then came the collapse. New Zealand A bowled them out for 86 in 13.1 overs and knocked off the runs in 10.5 overs for the loss of two wickets.

That 86 is their lowest score in the last 10 matches, and it followed a 2025 campaign in which they won just one of five.

Points Table

Northern Territory Strike have two wins from three matches. ACT Comets are yet to win from two.

The wider numbers are stark. Across their last 10 matches, NT Strike have a 50 percent win rate against ACT’s 10 percent. NT Strike average 140 with the bat, ACT 124. NT Strike’s lowest score in that span is 117, ACT’s is 86.

NTS vs ACT Head to Head Record

Northern Territory Strike lead 2-0, and both wins were comfortable.

In the 2025 edition they posted 145/7 and bowled ACT out for 105, winning by 40 runs. In 2024 they made 186/8 and held ACT to 175/7, an 11 run win in a higher scoring contest.

ACT are still looking for a first win in this fixture.

NTS vs ACT Squads

Northern Territory Strike: D’Arcy Short captains the side, a former Australia international and one of the most destructive openers in Big Bash history. His presence transforms this batting order.

Jordan Silk brings long Sydney Sixers experience through the middle order, and Wes Agar leads the pace attack with extensive BBL cricket behind him. Matt Hammond, who captained NT Strike to the 2023 Top End title, adds a leader with a trophy already to his name in this competition.

Full squad: D’Arcy Short (c), Cadell McMahon (wk), Jordan Silk, William Blair, Harshtik Bimbral, Douwtjie Hoogenboezem, Tom Menzies, Matt Hammond, Hamish Martin, Wes Agar, Reiley Mark, Jaga Koduru, Sam Barker, Trent McVeigh, Junaid Mansoor.

ACT Comets: The Comets have named a 14 man group drawn from Canberra’s leading grade and emerging players, and no captain has been confirmed.

This is a pure pathway side rather than one carrying Big Bash or international names, which is the fundamental difference between the two squads here.

Full squad: Nic Broes, Nick Allen, Kai Brunker, Dave Dubey, Tom Hogan, Dylan Hunter, Zac Keogh, Zac Maron, Jeet Mehta, Esam Rahman, Jake Smith, Harry Thomas, Ansh Tiwary, Tyler Van Luin.

Pitch Report

This match is at DXC Arena No 2, a third venue in the Darwin rotation alongside the main DXC Arena and Marrara Cricket Ground, and it has no established tournament record to draw on.

What the wider Top End data suggests is that Darwin surfaces play fairly, with hard pitches offering true bounce and good carry during the dry season. Scores across the tournament’s venues have generally sat in the 120 to 180 band, and the main DXC Arena has produced higher totals than Marrara, including a 205/2 in last year’s Grand Final.

With no venue history for the No 2 ground, both captains will be reading conditions early.

Weather Report

Conditions look good. Tuesday in Darwin is forecast for a high near 87°F (31°C) with around a 25 percent chance of rain, and the outlook improves further through the rest of the week, with the forecast showing zero rain chance from Wednesday through the tournament’s closing weekend.

Darwin’s dry season is why the series is scheduled for August, and interruptions have been rare.

Probable Playing XIs

Northern Territory Strike (Probable): D’Arcy Short (c), Cadell McMahon (wk), Jordan Silk, Harshtik Bimbral, Douwtjie Hoogenboezem, Matt Hammond, Tom Menzies, Trent McVeigh, Wes Agar, Sam Barker, William Blair.

ACT Comets (Probable): Nic Broes, Nick Allen, Kai Brunker, Dave Dubey, Zac Maron, Tom Hogan, Dylan Hunter, Esam Rahman, Jake Smith, Tyler Van Luin, Harry Thomas.

These are estimates drawn from the confirmed squads. ACT have not named a captain, and final XIs are confirmed at the toss.

Key Player Battles

D’Arcy Short vs the ACT new ball attack: Short is the most accomplished T20 batter in this tournament, and ACT’s bowling has conceded chases with overs to spare in both their matches. Getting him early is the only realistic route to keeping NT Strike’s total manageable.

Wes Agar vs the ACT top order: ACT were bowled out for 86 by New Zealand A and for 105 by NT Strike last year. Agar bowling with the new ball on a hard Darwin surface is a serious problem for a batting group that has struggled against real pace.

Jordan Silk vs Tyler Van Luin: Silk anchors the NT Strike middle order with years of Big Bash experience behind him, and Van Luin is among ACT’s more reliable options.

NTS vs ACT Fantasy Team: Small League

Wicket-Keepers: Jordan Silk,

Batters: D’Arcy Short (C), Matt Hammond, Cadell McMahon, Trent McVeigh,

All-Rounders: Nic Broes, Tyler Van Luin,

Bowlers: Wes Agar (VC), Harshtik Bimbral, Zac Maron, Nick Allen,

D’Arcy Short gets the captaincy as the most accomplished batter in the fixture, opening for the stronger side against an attack that has struggled all tournament. Agar is vice captain as the most likely bowler in the match to take three or more wickets, given ACT’s two collapses.

The team is heavily weighted towards NT Strike because the gap in squad quality is substantial rather than marginal.

NTS vs ACT Fantasy Team: Grand League

Wicket-Keepers: Jordan Silk (VC)

Batters: D’Arcy Short, Matt Hammond, Cadell McMahon, Trent McVeigh,

All-Rounders: Nic Broes, Tom Menzies, Tyler Van Luin

Bowlers: Wes Agar (C), Dave Dubey, Nick Allen,

For grand leagues, Agar is the contrarian captaincy pick. Against a side dismissed for 86 in their last match, a wicket taking quick carries enormous upside and will not attract the ownership Short does. Silk as vice captain offers a reliable middle order option.

Dave Dubey and Nick Allen are cheaper ACT picks who could still contribute if the Comets bat first and last the distance.

Also Read- NZ-A vs HYK Fantasy Prediction, 14th Match: New Zealand A vs Hyderabad Kingsmen Academy Fantasy Team, Playing XI, Pitch Report, Top End T20 Series 2026

Match Prediction

This looks one sided, and the numbers support that reading.

Northern Territory Strike have D’Arcy Short, Jordan Silk and Wes Agar, three players with proven Big Bash and international pedigree. They lead the head to head 2-0, they have won two of three this tournament, and they are the home side.

ACT Comets have not won in this competition since a single victory late in the 2025 campaign. Their 10 percent win rate over the last 10 matches is the weakest of any side in the tournament, they have been bowled out for 86 and 132 in their two matches this year, and they have no confirmed captain.

Northern Territory Strike should win comfortably. ACT’s path to an upset requires their top order to bat 20 overs, something they have managed only once in their last four attempts.

NTS vs ACT Fantasy Team: FAQs

Q. Who will win the NTS vs ACT 13th match today?
A. Northern Territory Strike are heavy favourites. They lead the head to head 2-0, have D’Arcy Short and Wes Agar in their squad, and are playing an ACT side that has lost both matches this tournament including being bowled out for 86.

Q. What time does the NTS vs ACT match start in India?
A. 6:00 AM IST on Tuesday, 25 August. The local start in Darwin is 10:00 AM.

Q. What is the NTS vs ACT Fantasy prediction for the 13th match?
A. D’Arcy Short and Wes Agar are the top captaincy picks. Jordan Silk and Nic Broes are the more sensible differential options.

Q. Who captains Northern Territory Strike?
A. D’Arcy Short, the former Australia international. ACT Comets have not confirmed a captain for this tournament.

Q. What is the head to head record between NT Strike and ACT Comets?
A. NT Strike lead 2-0. They won by 40 runs in 2025 after bowling ACT out for 105, and by 11 runs in 2024.

Q. What is the pitch report for DXC Arena No 2, Darwin?
A. It has no established tournament record, being a third venue in the Darwin rotation. Darwin surfaces generally offer hard pitches with true bounce, and Top End scores have mostly sat in the 120 to 180 band.

Q. Is there a rain threat for the NTS vs ACT match?
A. Minimal. Tuesday carries around a 25 percent chance of rain, and the forecast shows no rain at all from Wednesday through the end of the tournament.