The two-day match was the final selection trial for the state team that will defend NSW’s titles at the National Championships in Adelaide next January.

One of two Southern Zone players who made the NSW team, which is dominated by City players, Jo McDevitt, top scored for Country with 71.

Country won the toss and elected to bat but despite the batsman’s paradise that is Bradman Oval, Country were under pressure after losing three early wickets.

Country recovered with a fighting 86-run partnership between McDevitt and Mitchell Farag before Farag was dismissed for 47. McDevitt and fellow Southern Zone team mate Kerrod White again began rebuilding the Country innings before the superb run-out of White for 36 sparked a pre-tea collapse that regained control City’s way. Patrick Cumming knocked over Country’s tail just after tea to finish with 6-35 as Country was dismissed for 218.

City’s innings began with some hostile pace bowling from Country’s Taylor Scott but the fightback from Country was short-lived as Ben Smith from Bankstown and Kurtis Patterson from St George, who was picked as NSW captain, took control of the bowling to take the score past 100 before some late wickets gave the Country boys some hope for day two.

Day two started with the Country bowlers throwing everything at the strong City line-up but it was the City boys who gained control and dominated the Country bowling attack.

Patterson raced to a brilliant 100 before retiring while Tom Decent from Hawkesbury gradually took the Country attacked apart to score an unbeaten 143 as City declared at 7-355.

Country faced 29 overs in their second innings to finish on 3-89 but when stumps were drawn the Brett Lee Cup was awarded to City for the first time in three years.