To snap the winning streak of the opposition, South have been set a winning target of 240 runs.
On Tuesday’s third day of the four-day fixture, Sherwin Ganga, the younger brother national captain Daren Ganga, stroked an elegant unbeaten 107.
In spite of Ganga’s effort, South fell short of North’s challenging first innings total of 384 and were dismissed for 361.
Sherwin Ganga counted 15 boundaries in his maiden Classic hundred which came in 286 minutes from 195 balls.
North’s skipper Rayad Emrit was the leading bowler for his team with four for 62 off 22.4 overs.
Batting a second time and with a slim lead of 23 runs, North were dismissed just before the close for a disappointing 216, with Cruikshank hitting an even 100, which included 13 fours and a six.
Cruikshank received good support from his Queen’s Park colleague Justin Guillen, who made 45 to follow up on his first innings 73.
The left-handed Guillen struck six fours in his knock and he shared in a third-wicket stand of 98 with Cruikshank.
Part-time leg-spinner Imran Khan emerged as the top bowler for South with four for 70 off 23 overs, while pacer Theodore Modeste (2-34) and off-spinner Amit Jaggernauth (2-46) had two wickets apiece.
Defending champions North, seeking four consecutive wins, started poorly in their second turn at the crease losing two early wickets.
Opener Mario Belcon (1) was caught by Jason Mohammed at second slip off Modeste’s bowling with the total on one.
Shortly after, Modeste struck again, when he had Lendl Simmons (5) caught at second slip by Samuel Badree with the score on seven.
It was then left to Cruikshank and Guillen to stabilize the innings as none of the other batsmen looked the part.
Earlier, South resumed on 302 for six — 82 runs adrift of North’s first-innings total — with Sherwin Ganga on 86 and left-arm spinner Dave Mohammed on four.
The duo carried the score to 334 before the adventurous Mohammed was caught at the wicket by Anthony Balgobin for 30 of Emrit’s bowling.
Mohammed faced 34 balls and hit six fours.
Fifteen runs later, Amit Jaggernauth (7) offered a regulation catch off Emrit to first slip where Guillen gleefully accepted the offer.
Fast bowler Modeste joined Ganga, who was stuck on 98 for a long period, but eventually reached his landmark with a straight drive for four from Navin Stewart’s bowling.
His hundred was achieved in 258 minutes off 176 balls and contained 14 fours.
On Monday’s rain-affected second day’s play, Daren Ganga made 91 before he was run out. He batted for 245 minutes, faced 163 balls and hit 11 fours.
