PESHAWAR:Right-arm leg-spinner Suleman spun New Age Public School Jamrud Khyber District to four wickets victory against Educators School Nowshera in the final of the PCB-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inter-School Boys Cricket Championship played here at Hayatabad Sports Complex Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Suleman grabbed four wickets for just 13 runs in his six overs spell and succeeded in restricting Educators School Nowshera to 152 all out in 28 overs of the 30 overs match.
Promising batsman of New Age Public School, Naheed Ali smashed an unbeaten 38 off 56 balls with four boundaries. He along with Hadi Afridi had a controlled when their team lost six wickets for 119 runs but both Naheed Ali and Hadi Afridi recorded a 38 runs partnership for the seventh-wicket and raced their team to convincing four wickets victory.
Earlier, New Age Public School skipper won the toss and invited Educators School Nowshera to bat first. Educators School Nowshera were all out for 152 runs wherein they lost the opening for just 18 runs on board.
At one stage the Educators were in deep trouble when they lost six wickets for just 55 runs but Naveed Khan and Ayaz played a vital innings and added 79 runs for the seventh-wicket stand. Naveed made a cracking 48 runs, unluckily missed his half century.
He smashed five boundaries and three towering sixes – two on the long-on boundary and one on the leg side.
Ayaz made another vital 39 runs off 32 balls with six boundaries and one towering six on the leg side. The other prominent contributor was Waleed who made 26 runs off 62 balls with one boundary. No other batsmen were able to cross the double figures as the bowlers of New Age Public School Jamrud dominated.
Suleman was the most successful bowlers, who also adjudged as Man of the Match, took four wickets for 13 runs in his six overs spell, Amjad, the right arm medium pacer, took two wickets for 25 run in his three overs spell, Hadi Afridi got two wickets for 31 runs in his six overs spell. Waqar, Shams-ur-Rahman grabbed one wicket each.
In reply, the New Age Public School Jamrud top order failed to add some runs and went early as New Age School lost three wickets for 56 runs only in 8 overs. New Age Public School Jamrud innings tumbled down further when they lost another two wickets for 92 runs only.
This was Naheed Ali who first paired with Junaid scored 27 runs and later on with Hadi Afridi guided the team to victory in the 26 overs. Both Naheed Ali and Hadi Afridi shared another 36 runs for seventh wicket partnership. Naheed made 38 runs not out off 56 balls with four cracking boundaries and Hadi Afridi, who also smashed away the winning six, made 28 runs not out off 18 balls with four boundaries besides the winning six.
For Educators Nowshera right-arm off spinner Maaz Khaizer grabbed three wickets for 28 runs in his six over spell, the other right-arm off spinner Talha took two wickets for 21 runs in his four overs spell. Asfandyar took one wicket for 49 runs in his six overs spell. Thus New Age Public School Jamrud won the match by four wickets.
KP Minister for Education Shahram Khan Tarakai gave away the trophies, medalist and cash prizes. CEO PCB KP, Babar Khan, Additional Secretary Sport Tashfeen Haider, Director General Sports KP Asfandyar Khattak, Administrator Hayatabad Sports Complex Shah Faisal, teaching staff, principals and players and a large number of spectators were also present during the thrill-packed match.
Salam Khan of GHSS Lala Qilah, Dir Lower, who made 417 runs, was declared as best batsmen, Asad Khan on the same school declared best bowler who grabbed 28 wickets, best wicket-keeper goes to Rizwan of AIMS School Dir Upper, who claimed 19 dismissal including 15 catches behind the stumps and four stumps. Best all-rounder award won by Muhammad Umair of Abbottabad who scored 369 runs including two centuries and two 50s while in bowling he took 20 wickets.
More than 300 schools from across the province took part in the Inter-School Cricket Championship jointly organized by PCB, Directorate General Sports KP and Education Department, KP. Sharam Khan Tarakai announced Rs. 100,000/- cash prize for winners and Rs. 50,000 for runners-up team. A total of 4000 players have been short-listed out of the school championship with the aim to promote the game at grassroots level. CEO Babar Khan also confirmed that 20 top players would be sent to NCA Lahore for Advance Coaching and Training under qualified coaches.