LAHORE, Dec 14: Army defeated Police 10-8 after a thrilling fight in the opening match of the MCB Inter-departmental Natio-nal Baseball Championship here at the Iqbal Park Sports Complex on Sunday.

After taking a brisk start by scoring eight runs in the first innings, Army failed to add any runs until the fifth innings, as Police managed a comeback, but only to come closer.

In the first innings, Imtiaz Hussain, Rashid Balouch and Iftikhar scored two runs each while Farooq Khan and Zafar Ali Khan chipped in one each. Police, who could not score any run in the first innings, earned two in the second through Nasir Butt and Mushtaq Hanif to reduce the margin by 8-2. Police added one run in the third innings through Khurram Shahzad and after earning nothing from the next innings Nasir Butt hit a home run in the fifth innings to further reduce the lead 8-4.

Army, finally, regained rhythm in the sixth innings and added one run through Kashif Shah to make it 9-4. In the seventh innings, Police scored three runs with Ahsan Beg, Sahar Zovia and Riaz while Army earned one to maintain the lead by 10-7.

While Army could not score any runs in the eighth and ninth innings, Police needed four to win the match. But they could add only one to lose the opener.

Police now meet Wapda, another tough opponent, on Monday.