In-form batsman Bharath Chipli slammed an unbeaten ton to guide Karnataka to a facile six-wicket win over Andhra in their opening match of the South Zone one-day tournament for the Subbiah Pillay Trophy here on Tuesday.

The attacking opener struck 109 as the defending champions, in pursuit of a rare hat-trick of titles, chased down a competitive target of 228 in 45.1 overs. Karnataka, however, missed out on a bonus point to settle for four points.

Batting first, Andhra were restricted to 227 for nine in 50 overs. AG Pradeep was the top-scorer for Andhra with 49 while KA Fayaz struck 47. Opener LN Prasad Reddy (34) was the other principal contributor as Karnataka bowlers held sway over their rival batsmen. Paceman NC Aiyappa was the impressive of the lot with two for 34. R Vinay Kumar and skipper and off-spinner C Raghu picked two wickets each.

Karnataka were off to decent start with Chipli and his partner KB Pawan realising 47 for the opening combination. Vinay, sent in as a pinch hitter, scored a quick 32 as Karnataka raced to 98 before the bowler submitted his wicket. Ganesh Satish fell early, but Raghu (22) and wicketkeeper-batsman Devraj Patil (30 n.o.) were involved in useful partnerships with a rock-solid Chipli to see Karnataka home.

TN thump Goa

Powered by a strokeful unbeaten century by Vidyut Sivaramkrishnan (120 not out), hosts Tamil Nadu started their campaign on a winning note crushing Goa by five wickets.

Earlier, electing to bat, bowled out for 198 in 49.3 overs. Tamil Nadu, despite two early setbacks, overhauled the total scoring 202 for five in 37.4 overs and collected five points, including a bonus point.

Goa’s decision to bat first backfired, as Tamil Nadu medium pacers reduced them to 47 for five in 17.4 overs, before skipper J Arun Kumar (57, 81b, 5x4, 2x6) and Rohit Asnodkar (59, 89b, 3x4) added 92 for the sixth wicket in 22.4 overs. Once they were separated, the Goan innings folded up as they lost their last five wickets for 59 runs.

Brief score

Goa: 198 in 49.3 overs (J Arunkumar 57, Rohit Asnodkar 59; C Ganapathy 3-34) lt to Tamil Nadu 202/5in 37.4 overs (Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan 120 not out). Pts: TN: 5, Goa: -1

Kerala: 237 all out in 49.5 overs (KJ Rakesh 43, PV Manikantan 30, S Anish 33; Sarvesh Kumar 5-47) bt Hyderabad: 230/8 in 50 overs (Abhinav Kumar 85, Amol Shinde 33; Tinu Yohannan 3-29, KJ Rakesh 3-32). Kerala: 4 pts; Hyderabad: 0.