KARACHI: Kamran Public School sealed a 33-run victory over Al-Fatima to lift the ninth PVCA-EBM Inter-school cricket title in a low-scoring final here at the National Stadium on Sunday.

Batting first after captain Syed Mohammad Hasan Jafri had won the toss, Kamran Public were dismissed for a modest total of 156 in 37.2 overs. Mohammad Owais, who came to the crease at 81-7, was the top-scorer with a 67-ball 35 that included four boundaries.

Mohammad Uzair Akbar scored 23 off 30 balls with the aid of three fours, while Hasan Jafri (10), Mohammad Ghazi Ghauri (12) and Abdullah Ashfaq (14) were the only other batsmen to enter double figures.

Slow left-armer Adeel Meo was the wrecker-in-chief with splendid analysis of five wickets for 28 runs in eight overs, while Okasha Ali grabbed 2-18 in four overs.

Chasing 157 in 40 overs, Al-Fatima fell short of their target when they were all out for 123 at the start of the 36th over. Barring opener Abdullah Zareen (20 off 12 balls, five boundaries) and Adeel Meo (14 off 11) and Owais (24 off 38, four fours), the rest disappointed.

Mohammad Owais, who was declared man-of-the-match, took 2-26 in eight overs. He received good support from Mohammad Saim (2-6 in two overs), Rashid Ghani (2-18 in eight) and Mohammad Uzair Akbar (2-21 in eight).

Chief guest at the post-final presentation was Syed Ali Haider Zaidi, the Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs. The winners’ trophy and Rs50,000 were presented to Kamran Public School skipper Hasan Jafri by Shahzaib Munir, director of EBM, while Al-Fatima skipper Abdullah Zareen received the runners-up trophy and Rs25,000.

Other individual prizes were given to Ahsan Hussain (best batsman, Sher Hameed (best bowler), Naveed Ahmed (best fielder) and Saad Baig (best wicket-keeper).

The ceremony was also attended by PVCA chairman Fawad Ijaz Khan, KCCA president Nadeem Omar, Alamgir Ahmed and Amjad Islam.

Speaking on the occasion, Fawad announced that top 20 performers of the tournament would be imparted free coaching by KCCA for one year. Nadeem Omar pledged some of the talented youngsters will be part of the PSL franchise Quetta Gladiators, while Shahzain vowed support for the future inter-school events.

In a brief speech, Ali Haider Zaidi appreciated the efforts of PVCA for promoting cricket at the grassroots level. He further said the champion school of each city should compete in a national inter-school competition.

Summarised scores:

KAMRAN PUBLIC SCHOOL 156 in 37.2 overs (Mohammad Owais 35, M. Uzair Akbar 23; Adeel Meo 5-28, Okasha Ali 2-18); AL-FATIMA SCHOOL 123 in 35.1 overs (Owais 24, Abdullah Zareen 20; Mohammad Saim 2-6, Rashid Ghani 2-18, Mohammad Uzair Akbar 2-21, Mohammad Owais 2-26).

Published in Dawn, January 1st, 2019