DAMMAM, 10 May — Saudi Arabian International School (Pakistani section) Green lifted the first Arab News-Power Horse Inter-School Cricket Championship in style at Steidle Ground here last Thursday. The finals was an all-Pakistani schools affair as in the semifinals Pakistani School Green beat Rahima Academy and Pakistan School White beat International Indian School Blue.
In the final Pakistani School Green batting first, piled up 182 for the loss of seven wickets in stipulated 20 overs. Openers Asif and Nabeel hammered the Pakistani School White bowling. Asif was more ruthless on the White attack and in his 59 scored 10 boundaries.
Nabeel consolidated his innings and made a steady 48 which included four hits to the fence. Nabeel, was however, unfortunate to miss his half century as he was brilliantly caught at long on. In Ghufran, Asif found a steady partner. Ghufran kept rotating the strike with his quick singles. In his sedate innings he made 20. He succumbed to the flight of Taha and the wicketkeeper did not fail to stump him.
The scorching heat took its toll as Asif who until now was playing an aggressive innings lost concentration and was adjudged plumb leg before at the bowling of Asad. Rest of the Pakistani School Green batsmen could not capitalize on the fine start by Asif, Nabeel and Ghufran. Except for Nadeem who scored 10 runs, none of the batsmen could reach double figures.
Mateen, Asad and Taha shared among them six Green wickets, each with a haul of two wickets. However, Mateen was most impressive in Pakistani School White attack. His third over in which he claimed two wickets set the collapse of the middle order.
In reply to Pakistani School Green, the Pakistani School White put up some brave resistance. The openers Moazzam and Mateen tried to build up their innings but a miscued shot by Moazzam caused his wicket when he was on 16 runs. Kamran was unfortunate to lose his wicket in the very first over due to a bad call as he was run out without scoring any run. Mubashshir, however steadied the innings and scored a swashbuckling 46 with four boundaries and a mighty six to mid-wicket region.
However, Pakistani School Green bowlers kept the pressure on their schoolmates and soon Mateen and Mubashshir were packed back to the pavilion. Salman (22) and Ateeq (23) also tried to rekindle the fading hope and gave some anxious moments to Greens. But some fine pace and length by Ali Iftikhar and Asif restricted both. After their departure the writing was on the wall and the rest of the players just completed the formality. The Whites eventually were restricted to 166 for the loss of eight wickets.
International Indian School took on Rahima Academy for the third spot. Rahima Academy won the toss and asked Indian school to bat first. Captain M. Raees Khan and Ammar opened the innings. But Ammar was soon seen exhausted due to some quick running between the wickets and he virtually threw his wicket with a cross hit to the mid-off.
Samad followed Ammar and showed his intention with a hit to the fence on the very first ball but Tahsin with his outswinger provided an easy catch to the wicketkeeper. Shuja with captain Raees started to build up the innings and rotated the strike as by that time Raees was well settled.
Shuja was unfortunate to be given run out when he looked all set to start his attack. He made 18. After that only Faraz reached double figures with 17 runs. But the Indian school played with a plan as they saw their captain well settled. Every batsman provided maximum strike to Raees who had scored the only century of the tournament in the opening match and 57 in the semifinals.
The strategy to give him maximum strike paid its dividend and soon he reached his third fifty of the tournament. On the other end wickets kept falling at regular intervals, but unfazed Raees continued his attack on Rahima Academy bowlers. He was particularly harsh on Umair who gave 22 runs in his solitary over.
Raees virtually exhausted the Rahima Academy fielders as he did not spare any position with his lofted and sedate shots. However, Owais of Rahima Academy kept his cool and his off-spinner lured Raees who at that time was short of two runs to complete his second century of the tournament, to play across the wicket. He missed his shot and was trapped plumb leg before. Raees showed his sportsman spirit and didn’t wait for umpire’s decision to leave the crease. In his 98 Raees hit 11 boundaries and a mighty six to the long off.
But by that time Indian school had reached a commanding total. Vivek and Aneesh took some cheeky singles to push the score to 209 for the loss of seven wickets. Owais with his off-spin was the most impressive among the Rahima Academy bowlers. He claimed two wickets in two overs. Tahsin also took two wickets for 36 runs. Ali got one wicket and two were run outs.
In reply to the Indian total, Rahima Academy had a disastrous start as their opener Umraz was bowled by Vivek when the total was just 5 runs. But Rahima Academy captain Mudassir and Umair shrugged off the initial setback and began their attack on the Indian school bowlers.
Mudassir was particularly very harsh and as a result the whole Indian team looked into total disarray. They missed some easy catches and gave some extra runs due to overthrows. The bad spell for Rahima Academy, however, began with the fall of Umair who became the victim of a direct throw from Shuja. He scored 18 runs. Mudassir and Umair had a partnership of 78 runs.
After Umair’s departure none of the Rahima Academy batsmen reached double figures with the exception of tail-ender Zain who scored 10 runs. But Mudassir continued his attack on the Indian bowlers and soon reached his half century. But the continuous fall of wickets at the other end frustrated him and he realized that soon he was going to run out of partners. As a result he started taking chances. An inswinger from Shamim broke his fiery spell and the wicketkeeper did not fail to grab a fast snick. Mudassir scored 69 and hit 10 boundaries and a six. Rahima Academy was eventually bowled out for 140 runs providing a convincing victory to the IIS lads.
Shuja with his all-round display was the most impressive of all. He bowled three overs and grabbed two wickets, missing his hat trick. His accurate throws and quick response to attacks was most impressive. Vivek and Faraz claimed two wickets each, while Ammar, Shahzad and Shamim shared three other wickets.
The match was well supervised by Sikandar Farooqui of Eastern Province Cricket Association, while Zaheer Ahmad was the match referee. Suhaib Kidwai was the chief scorer. Iqbal Bali, Muhammad Shabbir, Iqbal Khan and Sikandar Farooqi were the EPCA-sponsored umpires of the tournament.
Hatem Hussein, Marketing Manager of the Power Horse Energy drink, thanked the EPCA, Arab News and the participating teams for the success of the tournament and assured that similar tournaments will be sponsored by his company in the near future. "We are committed to support the sporting cause," he said.
EPCA Secretary-General Iqbal Talib thanked the sponsors and the participating teams and officials. The date for the prize distribution function will be announced in the columns of Arab News soon.
