Karnataka XI beat Australian Centre of Excellence

C Raghu put up an impressive all-round display to guide Karnataka State Cricket Association XI to an eight-wicket win over the Australian Centre of Excellence in the Emerging Players tournament in Brisbane on Wednesday.

Electing to field after winning the toss, KSCA, who had not won a match in the tournament so far, restricted ACE to 189 for eight, with Raghu scalping three wickets for only 16 runs.

They then reached the target with 9.1 overs to spare as Raghu stole the show with an unbeaten knock of 76.

The Australians were in the lurch after their top-order crumbled and only a late fightback by Cullen Bailey (49 not out) and Phillip Hughes (32), who added 51 for the eighth wicket, saved them from complete collapse.

Raghu smashed two sixes and 10 fours in his run-a-ball knock to take KSCA XI to a comfortable victory. K B Pawan (25), C M Gautam (48) and V

Cheluvaraj (23) also did their bit with useful knocks.

KSCA are, however, out of contention for a berth in the final, to be played between New Zealand Emerging Players and South Africa Emerging Players on Saturday.

KSCA XI take on New Zealand Emerging Players on Friday.