Final report

North 151 and 69 lost to South 162 and 61-2 by eight wickets

The South took just ten and a half overs to knock off the 59 runs they needed to complete, in less than two days, the first outright win in this historic fixture since their 22-run victory in 2000.

Their innings began in the most dramatic manner possible, as David Mauro was trapped in front by Gary Savage's first ball, and for a moment it seemed as if the game might take its most extraordinary turn of all.

Lucas Paterlini, however, had other ideas and quickly went onto the attack. He hit Savage for four, was dropped at gully off the next ball, and then smashed three boundaries in four deliveries in Ryan Butta's next over.

With clouds building up, he and Charles Gibson pushed the score along to 34 before, in the eighth over, Gibson was brilliantly caught by Hernan Fennell at silly point off Alejo Tissera's fourth ball.

But that was to be their last success, as Christian Tunon joined in with three fours in an over off Tissera, and then, fittingly, it was Paterlini who belted Savage for a four and a six - only the second of the match - to give the South a comprehensive victory.

His not-out 36 came off only 29 deliveries, and included five fours and that winning six.

MacDermott, with eight for 44 and a crucial innings of 31, won the Man of the Match Award, with Diego Lord (seven for 38) and Gary Savage (52 not out and 26) named as Best Bowler and Best Batsman respectively. Miguel Rowe took the Spirit of Cricket Award.

Afternoon session report

North 151 and 69 v South 162

The North's batsmen had no answer to a spirited onslaught by the South bowlers in the post-lunch session and were dismissed just before tea for a paltry 69 in less than 29 overs.

Diego Lord took the top off the batting and finished with four for 17, while Billy MacDermott again cleaned up the tail to add three for 14 to his five-wicket haul in the first innings. Agustin Casime took two for three in four overs.

Their demolition work left the South with 59 to make in order to complete what would be a remarkable victory.

The collapse began in the second over after lunch, when Dougal Fergusson smashed a Paterlini full toss chest-high to Bernardo Irigoyen at short cover, and in the following over Simon Bignell edged Lord to Hernan Williams behind the stumps, the first of four catches for the keeper.

That made it 14 for two, and for a while it looked as if Gary Savage, who hit an undefeated half-century yesterday, and Esteban Nino might dig their side out of trouble as they took the total along to 38.

But then Nino was bowled attempting to drive Lord, and two balls later Alejandro Ferguson was caught behind.

Casime now replaced Lord, and with his third ball he induced Savage, on 26, to edge an outswinger to David Mauro at second slip.

And as if this weren't enough, MacDermott himself came on to replace Paterlini and with his second ball had Pablo Ferguson neatly stumped by Williams.

The North were now 48 for six, and the writing was on the wall in large, bold letters.

Casime trapped Ryan Butta leg-before, and when Lord came back four overs later the change again worked its magic as Williams took a fine diving catch to remove Alejo Tissera.

MacDermott disposed of Jamie Marlor in the next over, and then, after a brief resistance from Lowen and Fennell, it was all over.

Savage was not only the top scorer; he was the only man in double figures.

But with large black clouds rolling towards the Belgrano ground, there was speculation that the weather might yet come to the North's rescue.

Morning session report

North 151 and 11-0 v South 162 (MacDermott 31; Butta 4-20, Savage 3-39)

The South battled their way into a narrow first-innings lead of 11 on a tense second morning at Belgrano, largely thanks to a dogged eighth-wicket stand of 49 between skipper Billy MacDermott and Agustin Casime.

There was time for just three overs of the North’s second innings before lunch and, assisted by two sets of four byes, they reached the interval without loss and with a deficit of a single run.

Resuming on 91 for eight on a cloudy morning, MacDermott and Casime proceeded steadily, adding 41 off 17 overs in the first hour as North captain Alejandro Ferguson tried a succession of bowlers in an attempt to gain the breakthrough.

Both batsmen survived confident appeals, Casime for a stumping off Simon Bignell and MacDermott for leg-before off Alejo Tissera, but they continued unperturbed until the drinks interval.

As so often happens, the wicket fell soon after, as Gary Savage returned to replace Hernán Fennell and with his fourth ball tempted the South captain into an over-ambitious drive which resulted in an edge to his opposite number behind the stumps.

MacDermott had made 31 from 86 balls with three boundaries, a tremendously valuable contribution in a match in which the bowlers have always been on top. At 137 for nine the South were still 15 short of the lead, with just one wicket.

The North sensed their opportunity, but they were frustrated by further resistance from Casime and a spirited if unorthodox contribution from last man Miguel Rowe.

Ryan Butta returned to the attack, but Rowe drove him straight for two and then swept him for a single to level the scores.

And three balls later he played Savage to mid-on for the run which put the South ahead.

Gradually the final pair built up a slender lead, but with the total on 162 Rowe smacked Butta to Fennell at cover and the innings closed. Casime finished on 24 not out, made off 108 balls – a knock of inestimable value for his side.

Butta took four for 40 for the North, and Savage three for 39.

So after four sessions the match is effectively all-square, and the North batsmen now have the task of building a sizeable lead this afternoon, giving their bowlers a chance to push for the win, while the South will be looking for an early breakthrough in the post-lunch session.