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).