KARACHI: Hassan Khan’s brilliant century powered Beaconhouse School North Nazimabad to an exciting two-wicket victory over Kamran Public School in the HBL Inter-School Cricket Tournament semi-final here at the National Stadium on Monday.

Beaconhouse School North Nazimabad’s opponents in the final, to be staged on Wednesday (tomorrow), will be the winners of the second semi-final which will be contested between Fahad Academy and St Paul ’s School on Tuesday. The tournament is being organised by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA).

Openers Ammad Alam (32 off 26 balls) and Abdul Moiz (22 off 26) provided them a rollicking start and the 96-run fourth wicket partnership in 22 overs between Hasan Mohsin (71 off 75) and S.M. Hasnain (52 off 61) consolidated their position.

It was the trio of left-arm spinners, led by Waleed Hasan (4-21), which derailed their innings. Izaan Waqar (2-36) and Ahmed Salman (2-40) also chipped in with useful wickets.

Set to score 209 in 40 overs, Beaconhouse School North Nazimabad found themselves in disarray at 80 for five before they were rescued by a punishing 108-run sixth wicket stand off only 67 balls between Hassan Khan and Ammar Iqbal.

Hassan blasted nine sixes and eight fours in his sensational knock of 109 which came off only 49 balls. But after his dismissal the match came alive again when wickets started to tumble but it was Ammar Iqbal who stood firm and guided Beaconhouse School North Nazimabad to victory. He remained undefeated on 46 off 59 balls as his team won the match with just two wickets in hand.

Leg-spinners Ammad Alam (3-38) and Hasan Mohsin (3-51) bowled well for Kamran Public School. Dr Razi Azmat, head of human resources at HBL, was the chief guest on the occasion.

Also present in the presentation ceremony were PVCA chairman Fawad Ijaz Khan, Nadeem Omar, Abdul Raquib, Alamgir Ahmed and Amjad Islam.

Published in Dawn December 2nd , 2014