Fahad Academy, New Oxford Grammar School triumph in HBL Inter-Schools cricket

Pakistan News & Features Services

Fahad Academy and New Oxford Grammar School recorded emphatic victories over their respective rivals in the league matches of the HBL Inter-Schools Cricket Tournament 2014, being organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA). 

Fahad Academy trounced Zeeshan Secondary School by 123 runs in their Group D encounter at the Hussain Lawai Naya Nazimabad Stadium while New Oxford Grammar School whipped Metropolitan Academy by nine wickets in their Group H fixture at the TMC Ground. 

Electing to bat first, after winning the toss, Fahad Academy amassed a huge score of 242 for eight in the allotted 40 overs. The platform was set by opener Babar Hussain (45 off 35 balls) and Farhan Shah (67 off 60 balls), who added 92 for the second wicket. 

The momentum was sustained by middle-order batsmen Adeel Irshan (43 off 52 balls) and Zeeshan Ahmed (33 off 42 balls). They ensured that their team batted out the full quota of 40 overs despite fine bowling from the spin duo of Mirza Burhan (3-52) and Mohammad Javed (2-37). Medium-pacer Mohammad Hasan (2-36) also bowled well. 

Set a daunting target of 243 in 40 overs, Zeeshan Secondary School collapsed against leg-spinners Mohammad Saleem (3-14) and Arsalan Shah (3-13). Off-spinner Zeeshan Ahmed, adjudged Man of the Match, grabbed a couple of wickets for only five runs to send the opponents crashing to 119 all out in 22.5 overs. Mohammad Asim (47 off 35 balls) was the only batsman to offer resistance to the spin challenge. 

In the other match, the decision of Metropolitan Academy to bat first after calling correctly backfired as they tumbled to tumbled to 76 all out in 25 overs with only Abdul Rahman (20 off 42 balls) and Yaqoob Ahmed (11 off 13 balls) entered double figures as the innings was wrecked by the spin duo of Saad Ghauri (3-19) and Israr Ahmed (2-11). 

Set a modest target of 77 in 40 overs, New Oxford Grammar School got over the line in a matter of just 17.3 overs. The victory charge was led by the opening pair of Chand Ahmed and Hasan Masood. Interestingly the opening partnership was finally broken when the scores were level. 

Chand Ahmed, who scored 40 off 50 balls with the help of five fours, was adjudged Man of the Match. Hasan Masood remained undefeated with 23 off 47 balls as the winning runs came with as many as 22.3 overs to spare.

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KGS win low-scoring encounter in HBL Inter-Schools cricket

Pakistan News & Features Services

Karachi Grammar School defeated CAA Model School by 24 runs in what turned out be a low scoring Group E fixture of the HBL Inter-School Cricket Tournament 2014 at the SKBZ Ground in DHA, Karachi. 

The tournament, organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), is being contested by a total of 32 outfits, divided equally in eight groups with the group champions to advance to the quarter-finals upon the conclusion of league matches. 

The bowlers dominated the encounter between Karachi Grammar School and CAA Model School in which a total of 242 runs were scored for the loss of 20 wickets in 52.1 overs. Karachi Grammar School was all out for 133 in 29.2 overs while CAA Model School, chasing a target of 134 in 40 overs, was skittled for 109 in 23.2 overs. 

Ali Rezah of Karachi Grammar School was declared Man of of the Match. Electing to bat, after winning the toss, Karachi Grammar School lost wickets at regular intervals to be bowled out for 133 despite the contribution of as many as 44 extras which included 37 wides. 

Opener Khizar Saquib was the topscorer with 25 off 41 balls while Mikayeel Ali (15 off 36 balls), Aamir Saeeduddin (15 off 22 balls) and Ali Rezah (13 off 27 balls) being the only others to enter double figures. 

CAA Model School’s spearhead Dainyal Nadeem returned the excellent figures of three for eight off 5.5 overs while the pressure was sustained by left-arm spinner Owais Shah (3-24) and leg-spinner Osama Mohsin (2-21). 

In reply, CAA Model School could build any notable partnerships and they were routed in little over 23 overs. They lost the match by 24 runs with nearly 17 overs remaining unutilized.Opener Osama Mohsin was their topscorer with 28 off 42 balls while number 10 Hamza Waraich contributed a breezy 17 off 16 balls down the order to reduce the margin of defeat. 

Medium-pacer Salman Ali (3-29) was the pick of the bowlers for Karachi Grammar School for whom off-spinner Zair Riaz (2-8) and leg-spinner Ali Rezah (2-14) also bowled splendidly to engineer a win for their side.

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Mazhar Abbas powers Fatimiyah School to victory in HBL Inter-Schools cricket

Pakistan News & Features Services 

Fine all-round performance from Mazhar Abbas powered Fatimiyah Boys School to 28-run victory over Army Public School in their Group B encounter of the HBL Inter-Schools Cricket Tournament 2014 at the TMC Ground, Karachi. 

The tournament, being organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), has resumed after the Eid-ul-Azha holidays. A total of 32 outfits, divided equally in eight groups have entered the competition with the group champions to qualify for the quarter-finals. 

The contest between Fatimiyah Boys School and Army Public School turned out to be an absorbing one with Mazhar Abbas proving to be the difference between the two evenly matches sides. He was declared Man of the Match. 

Electing to bat, after winning the toss, Fatimiyah Boys School overcame a dreaded start to post a fighting total of 224 in 36.5 overs which was largely made possible by middle-order batsman Mazhar Abbas, who struck one six and six fours in his 79 off 72 balls. 

Opener Hasan Wadia (26 off 64 balls), Murtaza Raza (24 off 23 balls) and Syed Mustajab (24 off 15 balls) also played their role in boosting the score. Leg-spinner Zain-ul-Abedeen (3-48) picked up crucial after medium-pacers Saboor Ishaq (2-18) and Usman Asif (2-31) had rattled the top-order. 

Set a target of 225 in 40 overs, Army Public School lost both the openers cheaply but they were kept in the hunt by Usama Hasan who ran out of partners in the end. The number three batsman remained undefeated on 44 off 87 balls, hitting a couple of boundaries. 

Zain-ul-Abedeen followed up his three-wicket haul with an enterprising knock of 42 off 44 balls, smashing one six and six fours. The momentum was lost after his dismissal and Army Public School was bowled out for 196 in 38.1 overs despite the contribution of 32 extras.

 The off-spinning duo of Mudassar Jafri (3-31) and Mazhar Abbas (2-58) rocked the middle-order after fine medium-pacer bowling from Hasan Askari (2-40).

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KPS, HPS triumph in HBL Inter-Schools cricket

Pakistan News & Features Services

Kamran Public School (KPS) and Habib Public School (HPS) overpowered their respective rivals in the HBL Inter-School Cricket Tournament 2014, being organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA). 

KPS inflicted a massive 241-run victory over Azeem Academy in their Group C match here at the Hussain Lawai Naya Nazimabad Stadium while HPS defeated Faitimiya Boys Secondary School (FBSS) by 30 runs in their Group B fixture at the KCCA Stadium. 

Put into bat, KPS posted a mammoth total of 296 for five in the allotted 40 overs with Abdul Moiz (85 off 81 balls), Hammad Alam (61 off 51 balls), Tariq Bakht (57 off 48 balls) and S M Hasnain (37 ff 37 balls) contributing substantially. 

Set to score 297 in 40 overs, Azeem Acadmy succumbed to the scoreboard pressure and was routed for 55 in 14.3 overs when opener Saad Iqbal scoring 25 of them. The innings was wrecked by the spin duo of Mohammad Bin Javed (6-14) and Tariq Bakht (3-4). 

Electing to bat first, HPS was bowled out for 137 in 37.5 overs as the innings was rocked by medium-pacers Hasan Askari (4-14) and Mudassir Jafri (3-22) with Hasan Ali Khair (40 off 78 balls) and Abdul Tariq (26 off 83 balls) being the only batsmen to offer resistance. 

HPS, however, defended the modest score successfully by toppling their opponents for 107 in 24 overs thanks to the lively medium-pacer Zubair Aslam, who claimed five wickets for only 14 runs. FBSS lost the plot soon after the dismissal of their well-set openers Ali Hussain and Mustajab Abbas, who scored 26 and 20 respectively.

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Victories for Beaconhouse School, Aga Khan School in HBL Inter-Schools cricket

Pakistan News & Features Services

Beaconhouse School North Nazimabad and Aga Khan Higher Secondary School won their respective matches in the HBL Inter-School Cricket Tournament 2014, being organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA). 

Beaconhouse School whipped CAA Model School by 107 runs in their Group E game at the Hussain Lawai Naya Nazimabad Stadium while Aga Khan School trounced Falconhouse Grammar School by 77 runs in their Group C encounter at the KCCA Stadium. 

Batting first, after winning the toss, Beaconhouse School collapsed to 199 all out in 36.3 overs, losing their last seven wickets for 28 runs. They were put in commanding position by opener Ahmed Iman (44 off 59 balls), Ammar Iqbal (40 off 35 balls) and Ahmed Salman (37 off 55 balls) while the lower order was rocked by the spin duo of Osama Mohsin (3-39) and Hafiz Hammad (2-11). 

Chasing a target of 200 in 40 overs, CAA School lost their top-order cheaply with medium-pacers Ahmed Fahim (3-16) and Hammaduddin (2-13) causing serious damage with the new ball. They were bowled out for 92 in 29.1 overs despite Agha Sarfaraz’s 27 off 48 balls with leg-spinner Maaz Bin Salman picking up the last three wickets. 

In the other game, Omar Shahid struck one six and six fours in his 96 off 109 balls to guide Aga Khan School to a competitive total of 222 as the quartet of Waqas Farid (2-26), Umairuddin Fakhri (2-33), Arsalan Nadeem (2-49) and Omar Tayyab (2-57) shared the bowling honours. 

Falconhouse Grammar School lost wickets at regular intervals to be bowled out for 145 in 33.4 overs with Zain Haider (46 off 42 balls), Abdullah Ahmed (28 off 34 balls) and Mohsin Ali (26 off 63 balls) being their leading scorers while their innings was wrecked by off-spinner Waqar Alam (2-22) and medium-pacer Hasan Ashraf (2-36).

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HBL Schoolboys Whites, Qadri Public School register wins in Inter-Schools cricket

Pakistan News & Features Services

HBL Schoolboys Whites and Qadri Public School (QPS) whipped their respective rivals in the HBL Inter-Schools Cricket Tournament 2014, being organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA). 

HBL Schoolboys Whites began their campaign on a winning note as the spin duo of Ashraf Khan and Emad Ahmed helped them overwhelm Behbud Boys Secondary School (BBSS) by 94 runs in their Group A encounter at the TMC Ground while Ashar Qureshi’s splendid all-round performance powered QPS to an emphatic 178-run victory over New Standard Grammar School (NSGS) in their Group D fixture at the Hussain Lawai Naya Nazimabad Stadium. 

Batting first, after winning the toss, HBL Schoolboys Whites recovered to post an imposing total of 228 for seven in the allotted 40 overs. Naved Ahmed (50 off 68 balls) and Wajid Nasir (42 off 51 balls) repaired the damage after the loss of early wickets while Mohammad Zahid’s unbeaten 41 off 44 balls lifted the total in final overs. 

They were tested by medium-pacer Saif Shaukat (2-19) and left-arm spinner Haider Ali (2-37). Fighting knocks from Saif Shaukat (32 off 38 balls), Abdul Basit (28 off 27 balls) and Farhan Sadiq (24 off 34 balls) kept BBSS in the hunt as they progressed to 117 for three. 

But the game was changed by leg-spinner Ashraf Khan (4-29) and left-arm spinner Emad Ahmed (3-24) with the last seven wickets crashing for only 17 runs. QPS, elecing to bat after calling correctly, rattled up a huge score of 289 for six in the allotted 40 overs.

The platform was laid by opener Ashar Qureshi (85 off 100 balls) and Abdul Basit (61 off 68 balls), who added 139 for second wicket. Rahmatullah provided the late flourish with a breezy unbeaten 45 off 21 balls, smashing four sixes and three fours. 

Chasing a formidable target of 290 in 40 overs, NSGS didn’t recover after losing both their openers for ducks to medium-pacer Abdul Basit in the very first over of the innings. Ata-ur-Rahman (39 off 56 balls) and Osama Khalid (22 off 36 balls) offered some resistance before the spin duo of Ashar Qureshi (3-20) and Mohammad Uzair (3-25) ran though the middle-order to send them tumbling to 111 all out in 28.2 overs.

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FPS, RPS register wins in HBL Inter-Schools cricket

Pakistan News &  Features Services

Foundation Public School (FPS) and Rangers Public School (RPS) registered victories in the latest league matches of the HBL Inter-Schools Cricket Tournament 2014. 

Osama Khan’s brilliant all-round performance helped FPS overcome Ladybird Grammar School (LGS) by 11 runs in a keenly contested Group A tie at the SKBZ Ground while Abu Huraira’s five-wicket haul allowed RPS to overwhelm Happy Home Secondary School (HHSC) by seven wickets in their Group F encounter at the Hussain Lawai Naya Nazimabnad Stadium. 

The tournament is being organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), and a total of 32 teams, including a couple of outfits selected by HBL on the basis of open trials, are participating in it. 

Number three Osama Khan (51 off 58 balls) and opener Saif Ali (34 off 55 balls) put FPS on course of a mammoth total but fine bowling by the spin trio of S M Ashar (3-22), Salman Ahmed (2-13) and Bilal Hussain (2-28) bowled them out for 169 in 36.2 overs. 

Set to score in 170 in 40 overs, LGS lost the top-order cheaply but Abdullah’s 67 off 55 balls opened up the contest. They fell 12 runs short of their target losing their final wicket with 5.3 overs going unutilized. The innings was wrecked by left-arm spinner Osama Khan (4-38) and medium-pacer Bilal Khurram (3-32). 

Left-arm spinner Abu Huraira (5-16) and leg-spinner Shah Munib (3-27) sent HHSS crashing to 87 all out in 24.5 overs with opener Osama Rasheed (15 off 25 balls) being their topscorer. 

RPS knocked off the modest target of 88 in only 14.5 overs with openers Mansoor Butt (21 of 11 balls) and Raza Qamar (19 off 31 balls) getting them off to a flying start.

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KGS outwit St Patrick’s in HBL Inter-Schools cricket

Pakistan News & Features Services

Karachi Grammar School defeated St Patrick’s High School by 20 runs in their closely fought Group E encounter of the HBL Inter-Schools Cricket Tournament 2014 at the SKBZ Ground, Karachi.

Organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), the tournament is being contested by a total of 32 teams, including a couple of outfits selected by HBL on the basis of open trials. 

Electing to bat first, after winning the toss, KGS batted out their quota of 40 overs to post a competitive total of 192 for seven. 

Their opponents kept the match alive despite losing wickets regular until they were bowled out for 172 in 34.5 overs. 

Opener Khizar Saqib (60 off 78 balls) weathered the early storm while it was Ghasharib Shaukat’s unbeaten 73 off 61 balls with the help of eight boundaries which lifted the KGS total substantially in the final overs. Medium-pacer Salman Khan (2-45) was the pick of the bowlers with Rafay Murtaza, Saifullah Shafaat, Saad Abdul Basit and Mohammad Waris being other wicket-takers. 

Medium-pacers Salman Ali and Abdullah Nasir blew the top-order of St Patrick’s High School to reduce them to 59 for five but their fortunes were revived by the 64-run sixth wicket stand between Umama Intikhan (53 off 51 balls) and Alyan Afzal (21 off 35 balls). 

The lower-order batsmen also contributed their but they fell 21 short of the target with 5.1 overs remaining used. The bowling honours were shared by the trio of Ali Raza (3-27), Salman Ali (3-33) and Abdullah Nasir (3-33).

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