ISLAMABAD, June 2: An 78-run 10th wicket partnership between Sudheer Hussain and Saqib Bashir could not save Islamabad as they slumped to defeat against Rawalpindi in the PCB National Under-19 Cricket Championship on Thursday. After Islamabad had lost their ninth wicket at the score of 182, the two batsmen made a gallant effort but Islamabad fell for 260 to lose by 80 runs at the Diamond Cricket Ground.

Sudheer stroked a fine 54 while Saqib scored a snail-paced 10 off 83 balls. Islamabad who had resumed at the overnight 44-0 replying to Rawalpindi’s 340 were also helped by a 66-run knock from Imran Fazil.

Yasim Murtaza was the pick of the Rawalpindi bowlers, snapping up 6-90 while Kamran Baig took 3-54.

Later Islamabad filed a protest against Rawalpindi captain Ali Sarfraz alleging that he was overage.

An ICA spokesman, Javed Ali Khan, confirmed that the protest had been lodged. Fielding an overage player in the championship carries serious penalties that could lead to the team being scratched from the tournament and the player in question banned for a year.

Summarised scores:

RAWALPINDI 340 in 86.1 overs (Ali Sarfraz 88, Asif Khan 69, Asif Mumtaz 51 retired hurt, Zahid Mansoor 47, Nauman Ali 45; Kamran Hussain 4-84); ISLAMABAD 260 in 73.2 overs (Imran Fazil 66, Naeem Anjum 35, Sudheer Hussain 54, Muhammad Ihsan 22; Yasim Murtaza 6-90, Kamran Baig 3-54).