KARACHI, July 13: Opening batsmen Sarfraz Ahmed and Bilal Munir were desperately unlucky to miss centuries on the opening day of the last round matches in the PCB Karachi region under-19 Inter-district cricket championship on Wednesday.

In the championship decider at the TMC ground, Sarfraz was dismissed for 99 as Zone-VI reached 252 for nine in 80 overs against defending champions and fellow title contenders Zone-II.

Sarfraz, a promising wicket-keeper/batsman, struck six boundaries in his 196-ball innings. Hassan Raza hit five fours in making 59 off 144 balls during a second-wicket partnership of 134 with Sarfraz.

Bilal, meanwhile, was out for an aggressive 92 as Zone-VII struggled to 238 all out against Zone-III at the Asifabad sports ground. His 98-ball knock contained nine fours and two sixes.

Fazal Subhan was the only other batsman to make a significant contribution. He scored a 48-ball 53 while striking seven fours and two sixes. Skipper Abdul Saad made 38 after the first-wicket stand between Bilal and Fazal realized 101.

Slow left-armer Mohsin Sultan was the main wicket-taker with five for 65 in 19.4 overs. Medium-pacer Ausaf Rabbani captured three for 66.

By stumps Zone-III were strongly placed at 137 in only 37 overs after openers Ramiz Raja (44 with nine fours) and Shan Masood (55 not out with seven fours) launched the reply with a partnership of 85.

Zone-V were poised for victory after reaching 123 for two in reply to 187 made by Zone-IV at the Landhi Gymkhana ground. Yasir Munir struck 46 for Zone-V with the aid of six fours and a solitary six.

Off-spinners Mohammad Nasir (three for 22 in 15 overs) and Tariq Murad (three for 29 in 10 overs) together with slow left-armer Ammad Rafiq (two for 33) shared the bowling honours.

Skipper Wasim Hanif led Zone-IV’s response with unbeaten 51, a knock that was laced with eight boundaries. Adnanur Rahman also looked in good touch by hitting five fours and one six in scoring 45 while adding 91 for the opening wicket with Wasim.

Summarised scores:

At TMC ground: ZONE-VI 252-9 in 80 overs (Sarfraz Ahmed 99, Hassan Raza 59, Misbah Khan 32; Kamran Ahsan 2-40, Zeeshan Ali 2-42, Shahmir Khattak 2-87) v ZONE-II.

At Landhi Gymkhana ground: ZONE-IV 187 in 62.5 overs (Yasir Munir 46, Jawwad Khan 28, Hasan Javed 23; Mohammad Nasir 3-22, Tariq Murad 3-29, Ammad Rafiq 2-33); ZONE-V 123-2 in 35 overs (Wasim Hanif 51 not out, Adnanur Rahman 45).

At Asifabad Sports ground: ZONE-VII 238 in 52.4 overs (Bilal Munir 92, Fazal Subhan 53, Abdul Saad 38; Mohsin Sultan 5-65, Ausaf Rabbani 3-66); ZONE-III 137-1 in 37 overs (Shan Masood 55 not out, Ramiz Raja 44, Arsalan Javed 23 not out).