Victoria cruise to win despite Nair's all-round efforts

A strong all-round performance from Arjun Nair was not enough to drag the Cricket Australia XI to its first win of the season, as Victoria claimed a double bonus point in their four-wicket win. Chasing 154, the Bushrangers reached the target inside 25 overs, but lost six wickets along the way, including three to Nair.

Nair had opened the batting for the CA XI earlier in the day and made 67, the only batsman in his side to pass 20. Fawad Ahmed picked up 4 for 43 from his 10 overs, including the important wicket of Nair, who holed out to long-on in the 30th over at a time when he could still have lifted the CA XI to a competitive total.

Marcus Stoinis picked up 3 for 28 and helped ensure the CA XI innings petered out, dismissed for 153 in the 38th over. Victoria's win was never in serious doubt, especially after a 69-run opening stand between Cameron White (29) and Marcus Harris, which ended when Harris was bowled by Nair for 36.

But in their push for the double bonus point, the Victorians did lose a few more wickets than they might have liked, as Nair and Brendan Doggett (2 for 36) did their best to keep the CA XI in the contest. However, the result meant that after four games the CA XI was still without a win, while Victoria jumped to second place from just three matches.