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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Mudassir Abbas, Mohammad Nabil shine in HBL Inter-Schools cricket

Pakistan News & Features Services

Mudassir Abbas and Mohammad Nabil produced sensational performance to guide their respective outfits to crushing victories in the Group G matches of the HBL Inter-Schools Cricket Tournament 2014 being held in Karachi. 

Left-arm spinner Mudassir Abbas took seven wickets for only 10 runs as Ebrahim Ali Bhai School trounced Fahims School System by 143 runs at the Hussain Lawai Naya Nazimabad Stadium while all-rounder Mohammad Nabil followed up his knock of 45 with a five-wicket haul to power Khan Secondary School to a massive 222-run victory over Qamar-e-Bani Hashim School at the TMC Ground.

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 the event which will continue until November. 

Ebrahim Ali Bhai School overcame a middle-order collapse to reach a total 208 in 32 overs with Tahir Marwat scoring an unbeaten 70 off 77 balls with the help of eight fours while opener Mohammad Owais contributed a blazing 52 off 32 balls, blasting one six and seven fours. The innings was wrecked by left-arm spinner Ihtaram-ul-Haq (5-34). 

Set to score 209 in 40 overs, Fahims School System collapsed dramatically against the spin duo of Mudassir Abbas (7-10) and Mohammad Shoaib (2-12), tumbling to 65 all out in 12.2 overs. They lost their last nine wickets for only 10 runs after the 50-run second wicket partnership between Ihtaram-ul-Haq (22 off 26 balls) and Abdul Hamid (17 off 29 balls). 

In the other game, Khan Secondary School rattled up a huge score of 279 in 39.5 overs with Arsal Bashir (55 off 49 balls), Rizwan Meo (53 off 48 balls), Mohammad Nabil (45 off 46 balls) and Sujawal Khan (29 off 27 balls) sustaining tempo with Mudassair Raza (4-32), Qasim Jaffery (2-17) and Zameen Hussain (2-67) being the successful bowlers. 

Qamar-e-Bani Hashim School, chasing a target of 280 in 40 overs, succumbed to the scorebaord pressure to be bowled out for 57 in 14.3 overs with the medium-pace of Mohammad Nabil (5-21) and Waqar Hussain (2-28) doing the damage. The demoliaion was completed by left-arm spinner Arish Ali who took wickets for only two runs.

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Victories for Fahad Academy, Zeeshan Public in HBL Inter-Schools cricket

Pakistan News & Features Services

Fahad Academy and Zeeshan Public School prevailed over their respective rivals in the Group D matches of the HBL Inter-Schools Cricket Tournament 2014 being held in Karachi. 

Fahad Academy edged out New Standard School by 14 runs at the Hussain Lawai Naya Nazimabad Stadium while Zeeshan Public School defeated Qadri Model School by five wickets in at the TMC Ground. 

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 the event which will continue until November. 

Electing to bat, after winning the toss, Fahad Academy was bowled out for 179 in 35.3 overs with Farhan Shah (30 off 41 balls) and Tausif Khan (29 off 50 balls) being the leading scorers as the innings was wrecked by off-spinner Shahzaib Khan (4-29) and medium-pacer Ata-ur-Rahman (2-50). 

Useful contributions from opener Shahid Khan (42 off 42 balls), Fazal Hayat (27 off 48 balls) and Ata-ur-Rahman (26 off 51 balls) put New Standard School on course of victory but they were tormented by the left-arm spinners Mohammad Saleem (4-14) and Umair Bin Yousuf (3-19) to be routed for 165 in 39.3 overs. 

In the other match, Qadri Model School amassed 181 for nine in the allotted 40 overs with opener Ashar Qureshi (63 off 70 balls), Jabbar Ali Khan (26 off 33 balls) and Uzair Ali Khan (23 off 23 balls) keeping the scoreboard ticking over despite fine bowling from leg-spinners Mirza Burhan (3-28) and Mohammad Ali (3-35). 

Mohammad Ali then kick-started Zeeshan Public School’s reply with 41 off 44 balls, hitting eight boundaries. Then number four Mohammad Asim played gem of a knock, as he scored an unbeaten 67 off 51 balls with the help of one six and nine fours, to steer his team to victory with nearly 11 overs to spare. Left-arm spinner Babar Qureshi (2-47) and off-spinner Ashar Qureshi (2-48) were the successful bowlers for Qadri Model School.

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Karachi Public, Behhbud triumph in HBL Inter-Schools cricket

Pakistan News &  Features Services

Karachi Public School and Behbud Boys Secondary School overpowered their respective rivals in the league matches of the HBL Inter-Schools Cricket Tournament 2014. 

Karachi Public School overwhelmed Happy Home School by 10 wickets in their Group F encounter at the Hussain Lawai Naya Nazimabad Stadium while Behbud School defeated Foundation Public School by four wickets at the Karachi Gymkhana Cricket Ground. 

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 the event which will conclude in November. 

Karachi Public School’s medium-pacer Abdul Rafay produced a sensational spell of seven for 14 off eight overs to send Happy Home School tumbling to 45 all out in 18.5 overs. His new ball partner Musab Wasim (2-14) also bowled well as their opponents lost their last nine wickets for only 22 after the dismissal of opener Waliuddin (16 off 17 balls) who was the lone batsman to enter double figures. 

The Karachi Public School openers Maruf Abbas (20 off 15 balls) and Ali Tirmizi (11 off 21 balls) knocked off the required runs in just six overs as they won the match with all their 10 wickets and as many as 34 overs to spare. 

There was a closer contest in the other game as Foundation Public School made 150 in 34.3 overs with number three Osama Khan (71 off 117 balls) holding the innings together while leg-spinner Haider Ali (3-33) and medium-pacer Saddam Hussain (2-31) were the pick of the bowlers. 

Set to score 151 in 40 overs, Behbud School lost wickets at regular intervals but they managed to romp home in the 24th over with four wickets in hand. They were helped by fine knocks from opener Farhan Khan (42 off 54 balls) and Haider Ali (27 off 26 balls).

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Falconhouse, Kamran Public registers wins in HBL Inter-Schools cricket

Pakistan News & Features Services

Falconhouse Grammar School and Kamran Public School registered victories over their respective rivals in the Group C league matches of the HBL Inter-Schools Cricket Tournament 2014 being held in Karachi. 

Falconhouse Grammar School defeated Azeem Academy by three wickets at the TMC Ground while Kamran Public School began their campaign with 78-run victory over Aga Khan Higher Secondary School at the Hussain Lawai Naya Nazimabad Stadium. 

Leg-spinner Umairuddin Fakhri (4-39) and medium-pacer Waqas Farid (3-22) sent Azeem Academy crashing to 157 all out in 33.1 overs with Ibrahim Khan striking one six and three fours in his enterprising 47 off as many balls. 

Opener Abdullah smashed five boundaries in his 37 off 35 balls to provide Falconhouse Grammar School a bright start. Medium-pacers Usman Zain (3-53) and Hammad Jahangir (2-27) alongwith off-spinner Ibrahim Khan (2-20) pulled it back but Zain Haider’s solid 29 off 49 balls helped the batting side reach the target with 11.4 overs to spare. 

In the other match, half centuries from opener Ubaidullah Khan (79 off 102 balls) and Tariq Bakht (56 off 76 balls) allowed Kamran Public School to post a formidable total of 231 for four in the allotted 40 overs with off-spinner Saad Aslam (2-53) being the most successful bowler in the innings. 

Aga Khan Higher Secondary School was bowled out for 153 in 32.3 overs despite Hasan Ashraf’s 50 off 75 balls. The innings was wrecked by off-spinner Mohammad Bin Junaid(5-22) while leg-spinner Mohammad Akif (2-10) and medium-pacer Hammad Mujeeb (2-23) also bowled effectively. 

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

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Jonathan Yaqoob spins St Paul School to victory in HBL Inter-Schools opener

Pakistan News &  Features Services

Jonathan Yaqoob, with a six-wicket haul, spun St Paul School to six-wicket victory over Rangers Public School in the inaugural match of the HBL Inter-Schools Cricket Tournament 2014 at the Karachi Gymkhana Cricket Ground on September 18. 

Coming in to bowl as the ninth bowler in the innings, off-spinner Jonathan Yaqoob, adjudged Man of the Match, turned the game around with a spell of six for 34 off 7.1 overs which sent Rangers Public School crashing to 175 all out in 35.1 overs after being 121 for one in 22 overs. Set to score 176 in 40 overs, St Paul School reached the target in 31 overs. 

Electing to bat, after winning the toss, Rangers Public Scchool got off to a solid start through the opening pair of Raza Qamar (37 off 50 balls) and Mansoor Hussain (27 off 30 balls). The innings was consolidated by number three Masood Ansari who strick one six and five fours in 50 off 56 balls. 

The off-spinning trio of Jonathan Yaqoob (6-34), Rohit Mukesh (2-20) and Hamza Khan (2-30) brought about a dramatic collapse that saw Rangers Public School lose their last nine wickets for only 54 runs. 

Opener Noman Ahmed’s 53 off 79 balls containing five fours led St Paul School’s reply and number three Umar Abdullah’s unbeaten 46 off as many balls helped them reach the target with nine overs to spare. 

Before the start of the opening match more than 500 students from the participating schools had participated in the inauguration ceremony graced by Pakistan’s cricketing icons Shahid Khan Afridi and Younis Khan, both of them proud products of HBL. 

The tournament, being contested by 32 teams, including a couple of them selected by HBL on the basis of open trials, is being organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA). At the end of the league matches, the eight group champions will qualify for the quarter-finals. The final is due to be played at the Karachi Gymkhana on November 27.

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Rampaging Sajjad regains NBP trophy

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Mohammad Sajjad, the first-ever cueist to be taken in their folds by the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), regained the NBP trophy, sponsored by his employers, by outsmarting eighth seed Imran Shahzad in an all-Punjab final.

Two-times national champion Sajjad, hailing from Sargodha, defeated Imran, another former national champion from Lahore, 8-5 with the frame scores of 73-33, 102-5, 72-1, 70-40, 2-75, 32-78, 83-0, 65-14, 87-24, 0-86, 0-110, 0-93, 77-17 in the final of the 6th NBP Ranking Snooker Championship 2014 at the NBP Sports Complex, Karachi, on September 18. 

The prize distribution ceremony, in which Nausherwan Adil, Senior Executive Vice President & Chief of Operations Group, was the chief guest, was held soon after the conclusion of the final. Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui, Commissioner, Karachi, was also present on the occasion. 

Both the speakers commended the improvement in the standard of snooker at the national level in the recent past, hoping that the momentum will be sustained in future as well. 

Alamgir Anwar Shaikh, President, Pakistan Billiards & Snooker Association (PBSA), in his welcome address, acknowledged the overwhelming contribution of NBP by means of employing as many as four cueists besides sponsoring a national ranking event every year. 

Cash prizes of Rs 174,000 were disbursed among the top performers with winner Mohammad Sajjad receiving a purse of Rs 60,000 and runner-up Imran Shahzad getting Rs 35,000. The losing semifinalists, Abdul Sattar and Asjad Iqbal, earned Rs 15,000 each while Hamza Akbar won the highest break award, fetching him Rs 5,000. 

There was broader smile on the face of Mohammad Sajjad when he was presented a bonus cheque of Rs 100,000 by the NBP management for having played the semifinals of the IBSF World Snooker Champion last year. 

The best of 15-frame final, featuring two of the most accomplished cueists of the country, produced high class snooker in which Sajjad succeeded in overcoming a spirited comeback from his experienced opponent. 

Sajjad, who had toppled the defending champion and top seed Asjad Iqbal in the semifinals less than 24 hours ago, started off from where he had left the previous evening. He was quickly into 4-0 lead, looking in total command of the situation. 

After pocketing the opening frame without too much hassle, he registered a superb break of 102 in the second frame and followed it up with another one of 63 in the very next frame. He was tested slightly in the fourth frame which he also won convincingly in the end. 

Imran, having been engaged in a marathon duel with sixth seed Abdul Sattar in the semifinal the other day, opened his account by winning the fifth frame and made it 2-4 by also wrapping up the next one. 

Sajjad was not overawed by the big occasion and he relied heavily on his break-building ability which saw him win the next three frames on a trot. He compiled breaks of 83, 65 and 60 in successive frames to move 7-2 up and just a single frame away from title win. 

Battling for survival, Imran also showed his pedigree by winning three frames in succession to reduce the deficit to just two frames. He followed up his break of 53 in the 11th frame with one of 93 in the 12th frame to make it 5-7. At this point Imran needed to continue winning three more frames while Sajjad’s requirement was just one. 

The momentum was with the former and he possessed the capacity to stage to turn it around, having done it before. Sajjad was alive to the situation and he didn’t let Imran repeat the heroics of yesteryears. The highly gifted youngster from Sargodha sealed the fate of the match by snatching the 12th frame. But there was consolation for the vastly experienced Imran to have gone down fighting after a nightmarish start to the game.

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