KARACHI: Ahmed Alam of Kamran Public School earned the distinction of scoring the first century in the HBL Inter-School Cricket Tournament being organised by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA).

Kamran Public School defeated Falconhouse Grammar School by nine wickets, HBL Schoolboys Greens overpowered Metropolitan Academy by seven wickets, Fahim School System outsmarted Qamar-e-Bani Hashim School by 58 runs and Beaconhouse School PECHS registered 67-run victory over Army Public School.

Leg-spinner Tariq Butt and opener Ahmed Alam came up with standout performances to power Kamran Public School to an emphatic nine-wicket win over Falconhouse Grammar School in their Group C encounter at the KCCA Stadium.

Tariq Butt, adjudged Man of the Match, grabbed six wickets for only 27 runs to send Falconhouse Grammar School tumbling to 137 all out in 35.5 overs after an enterprising 45-run opening partnership between Zain Haider (33 off 32 balls) and Abdullah (19 off 22 balls).

Ahmed Alam made a mockery of the modest target of 138 by blasting the first century of the tournament.

He smashed four sixes and 15 fours in his unbeaten 104 off 60 balls as Kamran Public School romped home with nearly 27 overs to spare.

HBL Schoolboys Greens consolidated their position in the Group H by whipping Metropolitan Academy by seven wickets at the TMC Ground.

Put into bat, Metropolitan Academy was contained to 134 for nine in 40 overs despite fine knock by Habibullah (51 off 79 balls).

Leg-spinner Aurangzeb Khan (2-10) and off-spinner Nadir Khan (2-24) turned out to be the most successful bowlers in their innings.

HBL Schoolboys Greens got off to a flying start through openers Syed Amin (33 off 44 balls) and Mohammad Usman (26 off 24 balls) and the momentum was sustained by Imran Shan who whacked three sixes and as many fours in his unbeaten 37 off 20 balls, allowing his team to reach the target of 135 in only 18.2 overs.

Syed Amin, who had also picked up a wicket, was declared Man of the Match.

Beaconhouse School PECHS showed excellent form while beating Army Public School by 67 runs at the KCCA Stadium in their Group B fixture.

Middle-order batsman Faraz Khan clinched the Man of the Match award for his fluent 72 off 52 balls which enabled Beaconhouse School PECHS to post a commanding total of 234 for eight in the allotted 40 overs.

Rohail Ahmed (58 off 78 balls) and Hammad Hasan (35 off 33 balls) also contributed substantially.

Army Public School folded to 165 all out in 28.5 overs despite the brilliance of opener Zeeshan Mujahid who struck four sixes and six fours in his 76 off 69 balls.

The innings was rocked by the spin trio of Humair Hameed (5-28), Taha Arsalan (2-11) and Huzaiafa Ahmed (2-42).

Ahmed Javed’s splendid all-round performance earned Fahim School System 58-run triumph over Qamar-e-Bani Hashim School in their Group G clash at the Hussain Lawai Naya Nazimabad.

Man of the Match Ahmed Javed topscored with 43 off 46 balls as Fahim School System was bowled out for 207 in 34 overs with off-spinner Ibrahim Hasan claiming four wickets for 40 runs.

Chasing a target of 208 in 40 overs, Qamar-e-Bani Hashim School was routed for 149 in 26 overs after medium-pacer Ahmed Javed demolished their top-order with a four-wicket haul.

Published in Dawn, October 25th, 2014