Worcestershire CCC duo Joe Clarke and Brett D’Oliveira made useful contributions with bat and ball respectively as the North warmed up for the series against the South with victory over Northamptonshire at the Three W’s Oval in Barbados.
Clarke, who has been in the Caribbean for the past six weeks with England Lions, opened the batting with Lancashire wicket-keeper Alex Davies and made 40 off 43 balls.
He shared in an opening stand of 114 with Davies.
It laid the foundations for the North to chase down a 260 target with 11 overs to spare in the 50 over contest.
Earlier D’Oliveira had been introduced into the attack during the powerplay and picked up the first two wickets with his leg spin.
Josh Cobb made 97 of Northamptonshire’s final total of 259.
But, after the Clarke-Davies stand had been broken, Sam Hain came to the wicket and ensured victory for the North.
Hain made 57 before he was retired out and added a further 99 with Davies who made 127 from 106 balls before also being retired out.
The opening game of the three-match series takes place on Sunday at the Kensington Oval.
It is Clarke’s second experience of the series, having played in 2017 in the UAE.
