Smashing wins for HBL Whites, Beaconhouse NN in HBL Inter-Schools cricket

Pakistan News & Features Services

HBL Schoolboys Whites and Beaconhouse School North Nazimabad 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). 

HBL Schoolboys Whites hammered Ladybird Grammar School by nine wickets in their Group A encounter at the KCCA Stadium while Beaconhouse School North Nazimabad overwhelmed St Patrick’s High School by 219 runs in their Group E clash at the TMC Ground. 

The HBL Schoolboys Whites spin trio of Mohammad Zahid (4-27), Naved Ahmed (3-9) and Ashraf Khan (2-26) sent Ladybird Grammar School, who batted first after winning the toss, tumbling to 117 all out in 35.4 overs. 

Ladybird Grammar School crashed after a solid 47-run opening partnership between Waleed Farooqui (23 off 42 balls) and Mohammad Kumail (17 off 40 balls). They lost the plot after the introduction of spin as the last nine wickets fell for only 70 runs. 

Set to score 118 in 40 overs, HBL Schoolboys Whites got off to a spectacular start with opener Waleed Khan hitting three sixes and eight fours in his breezy unbeaten 66 off 38 balls. His opening partner, Owais Butt (19 off 16 balls), was the only batsman to be dismissed as the target was achieved in just 12.4 overs. Off-spinner Mohammad Zahid was declared Man of the Match for his four-wicket haul. 

The other game, between Beaconhouse School North Nazimabad and St Patrick’s High School, also turned out to be a one-sided affair with an incredible margin of 219 runs separating the two sides. 

Beaconhouse School North Nazimabad, who elected to bat after calling correctly, capitalized on the flying start provided by their top-order batsmen to post a formidable total of 247 for eight in the allotted 40 overs. 

Openers Ahmed Imam (68 off 80 balls) and Izaan Waqar (21 off 34 balls) put on 69 for the first wicket and the ante was upped by number three Hasan Khan (38 off 23 balls). They could have built an even bigger total but the damage was controlled in the late overs by the trio of medium-pacer Salman Khan (3-40), leg-spinner Zuhaib Jamal (2-16) and off-spinner Jamal Rizvi (2-42). 

Chasing a mammoth target of 248 in 40 overs, St Patrick’s High School crumbled against off-spinner Shayan Khan (4-4), adjudged Man of the Match, and left-arm spinner Hasan Khan (2-3) to be routed for a paltry 28 in 14.1 overs.