In what turned out to be an unofficial T20 final, a strong bowling effort set up a hard-fought four-wicket win for the North Bulldogs at the Alma Oval on Saturday morning.

Starting at the unusually early time of 10am in an attempt to beat the heat, South won the toss and batted first but were in immediate trouble on an Alma pitch that was keeping very low.

Mani Singh and Matt Reavill steadied the ship somewhat with a 23-run stand until Singh was run out for nine, one of three run outs in South’s innings.