CRICKET: Players were treated to cooler conditions on Sunday as the Leprechauns took on the Souths at Gallas-Fox Park.

Leprechauns opened their innings by batting first and, as they hit the crease, positivity was high.

The Leprechauns began to gain momentum and strung together a few singles to post on the board.

But as the early nerves from the Souths XI evaporated and fieldsmen began to find their form, singles from the Leprechauns diminished and things began to go Souths' way.

In the face of accurate bowling, the Leprechauns tried to capitalise on space behind right slip but, as Souths plugged this hole, the possibility of any runs dried up.

When it became Scott Pearson's turn to bowl for Souths, the Leprechauns' support team started biting fingernails and giving anxious glances as he prepared his run-up.

Word of his bowling accuracy is common knowledge at Gallas-Fox Park, but his impressive batting performance the previous week earned him a century off 42 balls.

The Leprechauns had posted 27 runs when Pearson started his run-up and he immediately made his mark.

Ball after ball connected with the stumps as the batsmen fell in an attempt to survive Pearson's over.

Leprechauns player AJ Riley looked on from the stands in stunned silence as player after player slapped on their protective gear, grabbed their bats and headed off into the line of fire.

"He's already grabbed four wickets,” Riley said.

"We're in trouble, he's an amazing bowler.”

Pearson was so accurate that Leprechaun batsmen barely had time to settle in before they were required to step up and bat.

Within 20 minutes, Pearson had five for seven off seven overs and had no inkling of slowing down.

Daniel Caughey, sporting his lucky Australian cap, had barely made the crease when he was clean bowled and left to look at the stumps in astonishment.

At the end of the innings the Leprechauns had posted a mere 27 runs as Souths grabbed their bats and pads and clinched a decisive victory.