KARACHI: Karachi Grammar School defeated St Patrick’s High School by 20 runs in their closely fought group ‘E’ encounter of the HBL Inter-School Cricket Tournament here at the SKBZ Ground the other day.

Electing to bat first, after winning the toss, KGS batted out their quota of 40 overs to post a competitive total of 192 for seven. In reply, their opponents kept the match alive despite losing wickets regular until they were bowled out for 172 in 34.5 overs.

KGS opener Khizar Saqib (60 off 78 balls) weathered the early storm while it was Ghasharib Shaukat’s unbeaten 73 off 61 balls with the help of eight boundaries which lifted the team total substantially in the final overs. Medium-pacer Salman Khan (2-45) was the pick of the bowlers.

Medium-pacers Salman Ali and Abdullah Nasir then blew away the top-order of St Patrick’s High School to reduce them to 59 for five.

However, their fortunes were revived by the 64-run sixth wicket stand between Umama Intikhan (53 off 51 balls) and Alyan Afzal (21 off 35 balls).

The lower-order batsmen also contributed well but St Patrick’s fell 21 short of the target with 5.1 overs remaining. The bowling honours were shared by the trio of Ali Raza (3-27), Salman Ali (3-33) and Abdullah Nasir (3-33).

Meanwhile, the HBL School Boys White team was selected after a series of trials through nets and matches. The team will also participate in the Inter-School Cricket Tournament and are placed in group ‘A’ along with other three teams including Behbud Boys Secondary School, Lady Bird Grammar and Foundation Public School.

HBL School Boys Whites are going to play their first match against Behbud Boys School on Oct 1 at TMC Ground, Gulberg.

Published in Dawn, September 30th , 2014