Delray Rawlins and his South team-mates will be hoping to clinch the 50-overs North-South Series in today’s decider at 3Ws Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.

The South missed out on an opportunity to clinch the three-game series after going down by 46 runs against their rivals at the Kensington Oval on Wednesday.

It was the North’s first victory in the North-South Series at the fifth attempt.

“They were just the better team on the day,” Rawlins told The Royal Gazette. “It was tough to take, especially after being 1-0 up. But you can’t win them all.

“However, morale is still high and we are looking forward to tomorrow.”

The Sussex all-rounder had a quiet outing by his lofty standards.

He failed to get off the mark during the South’s run chase and was among the casualties during a collapse that shifted the balance of power in the North’s favour.

The former Bailey’s Bay and St George’s Cup Match player scored a half century (53) in the South’s 63-run triumph at the same venue three days earlier to start the series on the front foot.

“Be nice to get back among the runs,” Rawlins said. “But winning is the main objective and the lads are confident and ready to go out and handle business.”

The South squad is led by Sam Northeast, the Kent captain, and coached by Mark Ramprakash, the former England batsman.

Nottinghamshire’s Steven Mullaney is the North captain while Paul Collingwood, another former England batsman, is the coach.

The North-South Series pits the leading limited overs players in the UK outside of the senior team against each other under the scrutiny of England and Wales Cricket Board selectors and national coaches.

The purpose is to provide opportunities for players who otherwise might not get much exposure to the national set-up with the aim of helping develop England’s one-day team for the 2019 World Cup, to be hosted by England and Wales.

Rawlins has already represented England at under-19 level. He also played in the New South Wales Premier League and trained with the New South Wales squad in Australia this winter as part of the Overseas Placements section of the ECB’s International Pathways scheme.

The 20-year-old player made four appearances for Sussex in the Specsavers County Championship Second Division last season, making his first-class debut against Kent on the opening day of the campaign.

He also helped Sussex win the Second XI Twenty20 tournament.