Skipper K M Nafay’s awesome all-round effort leads New Standard Secondary School to massive victory in Omar Trophy Inter-School Cricket

Pakistan News & Features Services

Skipper K M Nafay’s awesome all-round performance led New Standard Secondary School to a massive 193-run victory over The City School in their Group H fixture of the Omar Trophy Inter-School Cricket Tournament 2016, being organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), at the TMC Ground on October 4.

K M Nafay, adjudged Man of the Match, scored a brilliant century to help New Standard Secondary School compile an imposing total of 288 for seven in the allotted 40 overs. 

He then claimed four wickets with his off-spin to send The City School crashing to 95 all out in 21.3 overs. 

The captain led from the front as he himself kickstarted the New Standard Secondary School innings, having elected to bat after calling correctly. The opener smashed a couple of sixes and 14 sixes in his 83-ball 111 to flatten the bowlers. 

The City School’s leg-spinner Talha Musavi caused a mini-collapse by taking three wickets in rapid succession and useful little contributions from Saqib Khan (35 off 30 balls) and Maaz Khalid (33 off 29 balls) lifted the New Standard Secondary School total to 288. 

The target of 289 in 40 proved too steep for The City School and their task became increasingly difficult after the loss of quick wickets upfront. Umar Saleem (17 off 20 balls) and Areeb Moin Khan (14 off 16 balls) were the only ones among the top-order batsmen to reach double figures while lastman Rayyaz Rameez made 15 off as many balls. 

The City School’s innings was rocked by the spin duo of K M Nafay (4-30) and Tariq Khan (4-32) as they dismissed the last eight batsmen for the addition of only 43 runs.

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Saif-ul-Haq’s unbeaten century powers Kamran Public School in Omar Trophy Inter-School Cricket

Pakistan News & Features Services

Saif-ul-Haq’s brilliant unbeaten century powered Kamran Public School to a massive 132-run victory over Falcon House Grammar School in their Group H encounter of the Omar Trophy Inter-School Cricket Tournament 2016, being organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), at the TMC Ground on October 3.

Saif-ul-Haq, adjudged Man of the Match, scored an even hundred which took the Kamran Public School total to an imposing 282 for six in the allotted 40 overs. In reply Falcon House Grammar School was bowled out for 150 in 36 overs. 

Electing to bat, after winning the toss, Kamran Public School was provided an enterprising start by Hashir Ansari (23 off 12 balls) and Hasan Jafri (21 off 18 balls) as there were flurry of boundaries in the 56-run opening partnership. 

Coming in at number four, Saif-ul-Haq sustained the momentum until the end of innings, finishing with an unbeaten 100 off 92 balls with the help of 10 fours. He was ably supported by Abdul Moiz (34 off 29 balls), Aliyan Mahmood (29 off 47 balls) and Ali Hasan (23 off 43 balls). 

Off-spinner Affan-ur-Rahman (2-26) and medium-pacer Nafay Yar Khan (2-53) were the successful bowlers for Falcon House Grammar School who didn’t help their cause by sending down 40 wides during the innings. 

Chasing a formidable target of 283 in 40 overs, Falcon House Grammar School wilted under the scoreboard pressure. Opener Sikander Ali Khan (37 off 48 balls) and Mohammad Mutawakkil (25 off 53 balls) contributed substantially but they also couldn’t force the pace. 

The clinical bowling performance of Kamran Public School conjured a resounding win for their side. Medium-pacers Hammad Ahmed and Anas Ilyas set the tone by picking early wickets with the new ball and the issue was wrapped up by the spin trio of Mohammad Ovais (4-35), Ubaidullah Khan (2-14) and Ali Hasan (2-20).

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Indo-Pak veteran cricket series called off

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA) has cancelled its upcoming tour to India amid escalating tensions between the South Asian neighbours.

Fawad Ijaz Khan, Chairman, PVCA, has announced that, in view of the prevailing tense conditions at the Indo-Pak border, the series which was due to be held in India during the months of December 2016 and January 2017 stood cancelled. 

“The PVCA had planned to send its Over-50 veterans squad to play four in the Indian state of Kerala from December 26 to January 3. The proposed tour included a couple of 50-overs-a-side contests besides as many Twenty20 games. We were going there upon the invitation from the Board of Veterans in India (BVI),” he disclosed. 

“All the four matches were scheduled to be staged in Kerala which is the busiest centre of veteran cricket activities in India as they also organize the veteran league tournaments regularly,” he added. 

The PVCA Chairman disclosed that the decision of cancelling the tour of India has been conveyed to the BVI. 

The decision of the PVCA has come just a day after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) to not place India and Pakistan in the same group during upcoming international events. The two teams are currently scheduled to play each other in the ICC Champions Trophy to be held next year in June in England. 

Previously the BCCI had ruled out the possibility of an Indo-Pak bilateral series although as of late no proposal from either side was made for a bilateral series. There hasn’t been a complete bilateral series between the Asian cricketing giants since 2007-08. The BCCI statement seemed to have cemented the notion that they were unwilling to play a series with Pakistan in the foreseeable future.

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Ahmed Farooq’s sensational eight-wicket haul drives Karachi Public School in Omar Trophy Inter-School Cricket

Pakistan News & Features Services

Left-arm spinner Ahmed Farooq’s record-breaking haul of eight wickets powered Karachi Public School to an emphatic seven-wicket victory over Al Hameed Secondary School in their Group F encounter at the Eastern Star Ground while Happy Palace School whipped Zaheer Public School by 134 runs in their Group B fixture at the Hussain Lawai Naya Nazimabad Stadium in the Omar Trophy Inter-School Cricket Tournament 2016, being organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), on September 29.

Karachi Public School’s Ahmed Farooq set a new tournament record by claiming eight wickets, giving away only 18 runs in his spell of 7.4 overs two of which were maidens. He followed it up with an unbeaten 30 off 33 balls to cap one of the best all-round performances in the history of the competition. 

Ahmed Farooq’s devastating spell of left-arm spin bowling sent Al Hameed Secondary School crashing to 66 all out in 21.4 overs as they lost their last nine wickets for only 17 runs after opener Mehrab Khan (23 off 34 balls) and Hamza Iqbal (23off 37 balls) had added 48 for second wicket. 

Chasing a modest target of 67 in 40 overs, Karachi Public School lost both the openers cheaply to medium-pacer Haseebuddin before Ahmed Farooq closed the deal with his steady knock as the winning runs came in only the 13th over. 

Happy Palace School completed a cakewalk victory over Zaheer Public School, after having compiled a total of 235 for nine in the allotted 40 overs, 

They were put on top by the 134-run third wicket partnership between Shafiq Ahmed (81 off 111 balls) and Sameer Khan Khan (56 off 72 balls) after both the openers had been run out by the brilliance of Mohammad Saad. 

Zaheer Public School’s medium-pacers Mohammad Bilal (3-21) and Syed Essa (2-34) stemmed the flow of runs in the closing stages by picking up crucial wickets which limited the total below 250. 

But the task of scoring 236 in 40 overs beyond the reach of the Zaheer Public School batsmen and they were bowled out for 101 in 18.3 overs. Only Mohammad Adnan (22 off 26 balls) and Mohammad Saad (20 off 21 balls) could enter double figures as the wickets kept on falling regularly. 

Medium-pacers Hamza Qureshi (2-23) and Sharif Shakeel (2-26) were the pick of the Happy Palace School bowlers but Man of the Match award was clinched by their number three batsman Shafiq Ahmed for his knock of 81.

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Al-Fatima School overcome Mubashir Nawaz’s century, three-for in Omar Trophy Inter-School Cricket

Pakistan News & Features Services

Mubashir Nawaz’s rare double of a century and three-wicket haul went in vain as Al-Fatima School edged out The Educator School by one wicket in the nail-biting Group D tie of the Omar Trophy Inter-School Cricket Tournament 2016, being organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), at the KCCA Stadium on September 28.

In the day’s other matches, St Patrick High School overwhelmed Behbud Boys Secondary School by 95 runs in the Group G encounter at the Hill Park Ground while Oasis English School defeated Khan Secondary School by 43 runs in the Group D fixture at the Eastern Star Ground. 

But it was the contest between Al-Fatima School and The Educator School which produced the most absorbing battle and the best all-round individual performance yet during the competition.

Opener Mubashir Nawaz stroked 11 boundaries in his superlative knock of 109 off 108 balls to enable The Educator School install a respectable total of 199. He fought a lone battle against the Al-Fatima School bowlers as the innings was dented by off-spinners Waqas Ansari (4-42) and Fahad Ali (2-25) besides medium-pacer Kafeel Khan (2-26). 

Chasing a target of 200 in 40 overs, Al-Fatima School got off to a cracking start through the opening pair of Kamal Khan (50 off 50 balls) and Kafeel Khan (28 off 37 balls), who added 79 for the first wicket in quick time. It was the leg-spin of Mubashir Nawaz (3-34) and Zaid Bin Haris (2-29) which brought The Educator School back in the game.

Fierce battle ensued between bat and ball ensued in the final phase even after a cameo from Syed Hunail (36 off 23 balls) and the outcome remained in doubt until the last pair got Al-Fatima School over the line. The consolation for The Educator School was Man of the Match award for Mubashir Nawaz. 

Opener Mohammad Usman’s brilliant 89 off 88 balls with the help of one six and 11 fours alongwith useful contributions from Basit Kaleem (44 off 26 balls), Sharjeel Ahmed (30 off 16 balls) and Exxon John (30 off 46 balls) allowed St Patrick High School to post an impressive total of 258 for eight in 40 overs against Behbud Boys Secondary School. 

St Patrick High School’s all-rounders Sharjeel Ahmed (4-19) and Mohammad Usman (2-30) also starred with the ball to send Behbud Boys Secondary School tumbling to 163 all out in 30.1 overs with none of the batsmen getting past 30. Mohammad Usman was adjudged Man of the Match. 

Electing to bat, after winning the toss, Oasis English School was all out for 196 against Khan Secondary School. The score was made possible largely by Abdullah (31 off 56 balls), Shah Faisal (27 off 30 balls), Adnan Khan (23 off 33 balls) and Shoaib Roz (22 off 33 balls) as they were tested by the spin trio of Sher Bahadur (3-31), Wajid Khan (2-24) and Majid Aslam (2-29). 

Set a target of 197 in 40 overs, Khan Secondary School’s innings couldn’t gain momentum after both the openers were removed early by medium-pacer Adnan Khan. The pressure was sustained by left-arm spinner Abdul Mannan (3-24), who was declared Man of the Match, and off-spinner Shoaib Roz (2-34). Rashid Khan’s 38 off 34 balls with the help of one six and four fours briefly revived Khan Secondary School’s hopes before they were bowled out for 153 in 36.1 overs.

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Zeeshan Secondary School, Qadri Model School triumph in Omar Trophy Inter-School Cricket

Pakistan News & Features Services

Zeeshan Secondary School and Qadri Model School overcame their respective rivals in the Group C encounters of the Omar Trophy Inter-School Cricket Tournament 2016, being organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA).

Zeeshan Secondary School defeated St Paul English High School by four wickets at the KCCA Stadium and Qadri Model School overwhelmed Qamar-e-Bani Hashim School by six wickets at the TMC Ground to inch closer towards securing a place in the quarter-finals. 

Electing to bat first, after winning the toss, St Paul English High School scored 185 for nine in the allotted 40 overs against Zeeshan Secondary School. 

St Paul English High School was helped by 51 extras, inclusive of 38 wides while Sohaib Sameer (30 off 49 balls) and opener Umar Abdullah (27 off 51) were the leading scorers and the wickets were shared between off-spinner Mohammad Muneeb (2-27) and medium pacers Mohammad Faizan (2-27) and Mohammad Bilal (2-30). 

Chasing a target of 186 in 40 overs, Zeeshan Secondary School was in a spot of bother at 63 for three before being rescued by Mohammad Muneeb and Haris Ijaz, who added 65 for the fourth wicket. Mohammad Muneeb departed after scoring 30 off 46 balls but Haris Ijaz, adjudged Man of the Match, continued to dominate the bowling and his 47-ball 69 with the help of two sixes and seven fours turned the tide decisively in Zeeshan Secondary School’s favour. 

He added another 51 for the fifth wicket with Mohammad Bilal, who returned undefeated on 21 off 26 balls as the winning runs came in the 33rd over. 

Abdul Basit’s fine all-round performance helped Qadri Model School to overpower Qamar-e-Bani Hashim School in the other match of the day. 

Qamar-e-Bani Hashim School, who batted first, was bowled out for 97 in 23.1 overs with Mr Extras (25) being the topscorer. Opener Mohammad Taqi (17 off 28 balls) and Haider Ali Zaidi (17 off 19 balls) offered some resistance but they lost their nine wickets for only 51. 

Medium-pacer Auranzeb Ahmed (3-29) was the pick of the Qadri Model School bowlers with the spin trio of Abdul Basit (2-15), Saad Bin Yousuf (2-15) and Azizullah (2-18) doing the rest. 

Qadri Model School needed only 9.5 overs to knock off the target 98 with Abdul Basit, making 32 off 20 balls with the help of one six and five fours, leading the victory charge. He was declared Man of the Match.

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Mohammad Abbas spins Fahad Academy to 10-wicket victory in Omar Trophy Inter-School Cricket

Pakistan News & Features Services

Off-spinner Mohammad Abbas returned a five-wicket haul to script Fahad Academy’s convincing 10-wicket victory over Fatimiyah Boys School in their Group B fixture of the Omar Trophy Inter-School Cricket Tournament 2016, being organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), at the TMC Ground on September 26.

Mohammad Abbas, declared Man of the Match, delivered a sensational eight-over spell to send Fatimiyah Boys School crashing to 67 all out in 22.3 overs. 

Fahad Academy didn’t lose any wicket in overhauling the modest target of 68, doing it in a matter of 7.4 overs. 

Put into bat, Fatimiyah Boys School got off to a cautious start with openers Ghulam Abbas (9 off 18 balls) and Ali Haider Bawa (5 off 30 balls) adding 23 for the first wicket. 

After having seen off the first six overs of the medium-pacers, Fatimiyah Boys School lost the plot with the arrival of the spinners. From 23 for no wicket they slumped to 67 all out, with all 10 wickets falling for just 44 runs in 16.3 overs. 

Off-spinner Mohammad Abbas was their wrecker-in-chief, claiming five wickets for 22 runs, while leg-spinner Rashid Khan (2-4) and left-arm spinner Mohammad Umair (2-19) sustained pressure from the other end as none of the Fatimiyah Boys School could reach double figures with the highest contribution coming from extras (26) which included 25 wides. 

Chasing a target of 68 in 40 overs, Fahad Academy began with a bang as openers Hammad Hasan (31 off 26 balls) and Mahmood Shah (18 off 20 balls) taking only 7.4 overs to complete the easiest of victories which meant they had as many as 32.4 overs besides all 10 wickets in hand. They were also assisted by a healthy contribution of 20 extras, including 16 wides.

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Mohammad Makki, Shaheryar Rizvi guide KG Schoolboys to victory in Omar Trophy Inter-School Cricket

Pakistan News & Features Services

All-rounder Mohammad Makki and opener Shaheryar Rizvi guided Karachi Gymkhana Schoolboys to an exciting 18-run victory over St Patrick High School in their Group G encounter of the Omar Trophy Inter-School Cricket Tournament 2016, being organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), here at the Karachi Gymkhana Cricket Ground on September 25.

Put into bat, Karachi Gymkhana Schoolboys scored 220 for nine in the allotted 40 overs. St Patrick High School replied befittingly before crashing to 202 all out in 39.2 over. 

The Karachi Gymkhana Schoolboys’ openers, Shaheryar Rizvi and Ramil Aftab, got their team off to a solid start by adding 50 for the first wicket. 

Ramil Aftab, who was the architect of his team’s victory in the previous game, was dismissed for 17 off 36 balls but Shaheryar Rizvi batted on to make 71 off 91 with the help of four boundaries. 

The St Patrick High School spin duo of Exxon John (3-30) and Mohammad Usman (2-47) brought their team but into the game but Mohammad Makki’s fluent 36 off 34 balls allowed Karachi Gymkhana Schoolboys to reach a respectable total of 220. 

Mohammad Makki then produced a brilliant opening spell with the new ball, rocking the top-order with a four-wicket haul which reduced St Patrick High School, who needed 221 for victory, to 58 for five. 

The 96-run sixth wicket partnership between Zayan Ahmed and Syed Shayan brought St Patrick High School back into the game. The dismissal of Syed Shyan, who made 46 off as many balls with the help of four boundaries, brought another twist and even Zayan Ahmed’s unbeaten 83 off 94 balls with the aid of seven fours was not enough to take his team to victory. 

The Karachi Gymkhana Schoolboys kept their cool in the final overs and earned a well deserved victory by bowling out their opponents for 202. Mohammad Makki was declared Man of the Match for his wonderful all-round effort.

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