The Prime Minister's XI has comfortably defeated the ATSIC Chairman's by eight wickets in the teams' fixture at the Manuka Oval in Canberra today.

Chasing the moderate target of 145 for victory from a maximum 40 overs, the Prime Minister's team cruised home with more than 16 overs to spare. Opener Brad Haddin (41) established the impetus with a typically attacking innings before captain Martin Love (48*) and Brad Hodge (36*) joined in an impressive unbroken union of 55 runs for the third wicket to finish the game.

Earlier, spinners Nathan Hauritz (3/19) and Xavier Doherty (2/28) teamed brilliantly to lay waste to the top and middle order of the Chairman's XI. Man of the match Matthew Bradley (74*) hit back with a sparkling innings but the combination of persistent bowling and a difficult pitch left his team in trouble from the outset of the day.

In successfully overhauling their opponents' tally of 9/144, the Prime Minister's XI reversed the result of last year's inaugural fixture between the teams. Next year's match, aimed at continuing the trend of promoting and showcasing the nation's best young indigenous cricketers, is scheduled to be contested in Adelaide.

© 2002 CricInfo Ltd