Joe Clarke and Brett D’Oliveira both made sizeable contributions with the bat for the North who triumphed by 46 runs in the second 50 over game against the South at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown.
The Worcestershire pair had clocked up 40s apiece in the opening encounter on Sunday – and this time they reached the 70s.
Clarke again opened the innings after the North had been put into bat and he raced to 71 off 58 deliveries.
He shared in an opening stand of 95 in 11 overs with Alex Davies (42).
Clarke struck two sixes and nine fours before he was fourth out with the total on 132 in the 20th over, caught by Sam Curran off Dominic Bess.
His dismissal led to the arrival at the crease of D’Oliveira and he also looked in excellent touch.
D’Oliveira added 108 in 18 overs for the fifth wicket with Steve Mullaney (42) and brought his half century up with a straight six.
He was eventually dismissed for 79 off 83 balls – off the bowling of Sam Curran – after hitting two sixes and five fours in his 83 ball innings.
At that juncture the North were 287-6 in the 45th over and Matt Critchley’s 64 off 37 balls enabled them to close on 335-8.
D’Oliveira then made an impact with the ball, dismissing opener Daniel Bell-Drummond for 19 as the South, despite 109 from Nick Gubbins, were dismissed for 289 in 44.3 overs.
The spinner finished with 1-44 from his eight overs as the North levelled the series.
“It’s a great feeling to have got the win,” said D’Oliveira, who was following in his grandfather’s footsteps yet again as Basil also scored a half-century at the Kensington Oval, in an England Test series win 50 years ago.
“Clarkey played really well at the start with Alex Davies, but we needed to rebuild a bit when I came in. I’ve felt in decent touch since we got out here, and it’s nice to have played my part. Now we want to win the series.”
D’Oliveira overcame one scare when he jarred his bat in the crease completing a quick single, and he was due to have tests on his right wrist today (Thursday) to determine his fitness for tomorrow’s decider at the 3Ws Oval.
