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KARACHI, July 11: An incredible finish on Monday in the PCB Karachi region under-19 Inter-district cricket championship left Zone-VI still needing to win the last league fixture to clinch the title. A certain defeat for the leaders looked imminent at the start of the final day of the two-day match at Pak Star ground with bottom-placed Zone-IV requiring another seven runs for victory with two wickets standing.
But paceman Anwar Ali dismissed Zone IV tailenders Aamir Shah and Mohammad Sabir with the scores levelled, leaving Mohammad Waqas unbeaten on 35.
Both teams were awarded two points each as the match was tied. Zone-VI, however, still lead the standings with 18 points with one match to play.
On Sunday, slow left-armer Aamir Shah grabbed five for 41 in 21 overs as Zone-VI were all out for 126.
Zone-III made a gallant attempt to reach a target of 250 against Zone-V before falling 10 runs short at Landhi Gymkhana ground. Asad Rukhsar made 52 as Zone-III were all out for 239 in the final over of their innings.
Off-spinner Tariq Murad captured four for 79 in 33.1 overs.
Zone-V owed their victory to Talib Ali who hammered an undefeated 131 in his team’s score of 249 on Sunday. He struck 11 fours and three sixes in his 184-ball knock.
Earlier on Sunday, Zone-VII ended Zone-I’s campaign with a six-wicket victory at Students Sports ground. Spinners Junaid Ishaq (five for 64 in 24 overs) and off-spinner Mohammad Shiraz (four for 36) set up Zone-VII’s second victory of the tournament as they combined to dismiss Zone-I for 156.
Razaul Hasan was the Zone-I batsman to make any worthwhile contribution with a 100-ball 69, which was spiced with eight fours and two sixes.
Summarised scores:
At Pak Star ground: Match tied.
ZONE-VI 126 in 51.5 overs (Waqas Haroon 40; Aamir Shah 5-41, Jawwad Khan 2-20, Salman Ahmed 2-26): ZONE-IV 126 in 57.3 overs (Mohammad Waqas 35 not out; Misbah Khan 3-28, Shoaib Lodhi 3-46, Anwar Ali 2-13).
At Landhi Gymkhana ground: Zone-V beat Zone-III by 10 runs.
ZONE-V 249 in 68 overs (Talib Ali 131 not out, Wasim Hanif 35, Adnanur Rahman 24, Mohsin Sultan 5-58, Shakaib Ahmed 3-55); ZONE-III 239 in 89.1 overs (Asad Rukhsar 52, Humayun Alamgir 32, Shan Masood 28, Zeeshan Jamil 28, Mohsin Sultan 25, Sumail Aziz 20; Tariq Murad 4-79, Mohammad Nasir 2-58).
At Student Sports ground: Zone-VII beat Zone-I by six wickets.
ZONE-I 156 in 49.4 overs (Razaul Hasan 69; M. Junaid Ishaq 5-64, Mohammad Shiraz 4-36); ZONE-VII 158-4 in 35.4 overs (Abdul Saad 37, Samiullah 32, Fazal Subhan 25, Yasir Hussain 23 not out; Nauman Hussain 3-20).
