Highly-rated spinner Crane lifts the South to series whitewash over the North

21 March 2017 04:38

Leg-spinner Mason Crane came up with the telling spell as the South completed a 3-0 whitewash of the North with a 20-run victory in Abu Dhabi.

Crane, a rising star at only 20, finished with figures of four for 39 - including two wickets in two balls at one stage - as the North faltered to 208 all out in pursuit of 228 for eight at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

The final match of this inaugural series also featured a second fixture in the space of five days for fast bowler Mark Wood, who is returning after three ankle operations and took two for 38 for the North in a contest delayed and shortened to 40 overs per side after rain in the desert.

Josh Poysden, another young leg-spinner, took three for 55 - but the South's Kent opener Daniel Bell-Drummond (81) and some late hitting from tailender Toby Roland-Jones ensured a defendable target after the North captain Keaton Jennings won the toss.

The chase was then on under lights thanks to Ben Duckett's early onslaught - seven fours and a six from just 17 balls - and a third-wicket stand of 67 between Liam Livingstone (50) and Sam Hain.

But Hampshire spinner Crane saw off Hain, Joe Clarke for a golden duck and Livingstone too, taking four wickets for one run in 10 balls - and even some typically resourceful batting down the order from Tim Bresnan could not quite keep the North competitive as Tom Curran (three for 51) returned to good effect.

Source: PA