Beconhouse, Hira Foundation register wins

KARACHI: Beaconhouse School, Hira Foundation School and Behbud Secondary School recorded victories in their matches of the Omar Trophy Inter-School Cricket Tournament 2016, being organised by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), here on Wednesday.

In the Group A fixture, defending champions Beaconhouse School extended their brilliant form to whip Fahim School System by 10 wickets at the Naya Nazimabad Lawai Stadium.

Fahim School were bundled out for 114 in 28.3 overs despite Saadi Ahmed’s 67 off 79 balls.  Beaconhouse spinners turned the tables after Fahim School appeared poised to post a competitive total. Off-spinner Shayan Haider ran through the lower-order by picking up three wickets for only four runs in a spell of 4.3 overs while the earlier damage was caused by leg-spinner Maaz Bin Salman (2-18) and left-arm spinner Abdullah Masood (2-38).

Beaconhouse got off to a whirlwind start and the openers raced to the target in just 7.3 overs. Ammar Iqbal, adjudged Man of the Match, remained undefeated on 83 off 32 balls with the help of two sixes and 13 fours while his partner Haris Ali struck four boundaries in his undefeated 23 off 14 balls.

In the Group E encounter, Hira Foundation School overpowered B M Grammar School by five wickets at the KCCA Stadium.

Hira Foundation and B M Grammar were engaged in a dramatic clash. Electing to bat,  B M Grammar perished for 90 in 23.4 overs despite the contribution of 41 extras as three of their top-five batsmen got run out and the lower-order was rocked by the spin duo of Malik Zain (3-20) and Ahmed Talal (2-10).

Chasing the target, Hira Foundation were in a state of bother when their five wickets fell down at the score of 60. They were taken over the line by Man of the Match Zain Anwar, who returned unconquered on 48 off 55 balls. He received support from Sohail Khan, who contributed 10 in the 34-run unbroken sixth-wicket stand as the victory was achieved with nearly 20 overs to spare.

Meanwhile, Behbud Secondary School overcame Foundation Public School by five wickets in the Group G clash at the Hill Park Ground.

Mohammad Arif’s fine all-round performance saw Behbud Secondary home.

Batting first, Foundation Public were all out for 148 in 34.5 overs with Mr Extras making the biggest contribution of 54, inclusive of 49 wides. Arsham Najam (19 off 25 balls) was the top-scorer as the innings was wrecked by leg-spinner Mohammad Shahzad (3-25) and medium-pacer Mohammad Arif (2-31).

Behbud Secondary lost three quick wickets after opener Farhan Sadiq (26 off 19 balls) had kick-started the chase. The 69-run fourth-wicket stand between Arif and Haider Ali took them to victory quite comfortably with 12.3 overs in hand.

Haider Ali was dismissed after scoring 30 off 48 balls with the help of four boundaries but Arif, declared Man of the Match, remained unbeaten on 55 off 66 balls, hitting six fours.