India batsman Rahul Dravid [Images] top-scored for a World XI with 66 and Shoaib Akhtar [Images] took two wickets for 29 runs off 10 overs in their side's 12-run victory over Victoria in Sydney, on Sunday.

Dravid and captain Shaun Pollock [Images] (54 not out) steered their side to 281 for eight in 50 overs in their match at a suburban Melbourne ground before Brad Hodge smashed 92 in Victoria's 269 for nine.

Sri Lanka [Images] offspinner Muttiah Muralitharan and South Africa all rounder Jacques Kallis [Images] also took two wickets each.

Pace bowler Shane Harwood was the pick of the Victorian attack with four for 37, though he could have had a five-wicket bag had captain Cameron White not dropped Dravid when the Indian was on 61.

A crowd of some 10,000 crammed into the small ground in St Kilda to watch the world squad's only match hit-out ahead of three one-day internationals against Australia, which start at Melbourne's Docklands Stadium on Wednesday.

England [Images] all-rounder Andrew Flintoff [Images], who arrived in Melbourne only on Friday, was rested by the World XI.

Brief scores:

ICC [Images] World XI: 281-8 in 50 overs (R Dravid 66, S Pollock 54, K Sangakkara 42, S Harwood 4-37)

Victoria: 269-9 in 50 overs (B Hodge 92, M Klinger 62, S Akhtar 2-29, J Kallis 2-34)

Result: ICC World XI won by 12 runs