South Africa Emerging Players maintain perfect record

South Africa Emerging Players 9 for 315 (Behardien 105, Elgar 56) beat Australian Insititute of Sports 9 for 313 (Quiney 71, Smith 59, Theron 3-37) by one wicket
Scorecard

South Africa Emerging Players continued their unbeaten run in the tournament, clinching a high-scoring thriller at the Albury Oval against the Australian Institute of Sports (AIS). Farhaan Behardien, who hit a sparkling century, seemed to have taken South Africa through to a memorable win, but he fell in the penultimate over, with still four to get. It was the last-wicket pair of Thandi Tshabalala and Lonwabo Tsotsobe who held their nerve as they overhauled the target with two balls to spare.

AIS were given the perfect start by Rob Quiney at the top, after being put in. His quickfire 71 off 63 balls was just the platform the hosts needed as captain Steven Smith and Tom Cooper joined in the act. It was Craig Alexander and Juan Theron who managed to put the brakes on the scoring for some time, with each picking up three wickets. But Jon Holland's late cameo of 33 ensured AIS went past the 300-mark.

It was a steady start from the South Africans during the chase, but apart from Dean Elgar none of the top five could convert their starts to big scores. Enter Behardien. Almost single-handedly he turned the tide South Africa's way, blasting 105 off just 60 balls. His innings was studded with 11 fours and four sixes as he put on 82 for the fifth wicket with Elgar. Another 50-plus partnership with CJD de Villiers followed as South Africa closed in on victory. But there was more drama to follow.

India Emerging Players 3 for 230 (Kohli 115*, Rahane 95) beat New Zealand Emerging Players 9 for 228 (Fulton 122, Sangwan 5-40) by seven wickets
Scorecard

India Emerging Players brushed off the disappointment of consecutive losses by thrashing New Zealand by seven wickets at the WEP Harris Oval. India made regular inroads after fielding first and were led by Pradeen Sangwan, the left-arm seamer, who picked up five wickets as New Zealand were restricted to 9 for 228. Peter Fulton's crucial century from No. 3 was put in the shade by an unbeaten 115 from Virat Kohli and India knocked off their target in the 42nd over.

Fulton, the New Zealand captain, led the resistance with 122 from 143 balls and Kane Williamson (40 from 60) made a start after Sangwan nipped out the openers. But then Abhishek Nayar struck twice with his slow medium-pacers to hurt New Zealand's middler order before Sangwan took out three more to finish with 5 for 40.

India themselves lost two quick wickets but Kohli and the opener Ajinkya Rahane forged a match-winning partnership that flummoxed New Zealand. Rahane missed a century by just five runs, stumped off Nick Beard at victory's doorstep, and Kohli remained not out to seal a crushing victory.