Our Own English High School bowlers had to prove their mettle and edge Pakistan Islamia Higher Secondary School in a “do or die” shootout to claim a coveted ADIB NSL Cricket quarter-final spot, according to coach Fostus Xavier.
The second and third-placed sides in the Sharjah Under-13s group played out a tense contest at Skyline University Saturday.
Zenith knew victory would send them through to January 16’s knockout-stage date along with leaders Delhi Private School Sharjah, but their batting line-up stuttered to 72 for six by the close.
PAK Hawks had powerful batsman Mois ul Islam to thank for putting them into contention after man-of-the-match Aayan Khan wreaked havoc during an awful start to their reply. His 38-run knock contained six boundaries and put his side on the verge of a shock comeback, only the introduction of pace stubbing out any hope of progression for 63 all out in the 14th over.
Our Own English High School had their bowlers to thank for a decisive victory. Off-spinner Khan came away with the man-of-the-match honours, taking four wickets for just 18 runs at an average of 4.50.
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“We batted first but we didn’t score too many,” he said.
“I am very happy to be named man of the match. It is my third time, after winning them twice last year.”
Zenith’s total after being put into bat contained 27 extras, Aryan Saxena top scoring with 12 in the middle.
Ghullam Ullah decimated their top order for three of his excellent four-wickets, teeing up Suleman Younus to catch Afzal Khan, Shoun Roger and Deepak Raj cheaply.
The poor batting form initially seemed contagious in the PAK Hawks’ stuttering reply. They were a dismal 28 for eight by the start of the eighth over.
This is when Ul Islam burst into life. A brutal ninth over saw him blast the otherwise-exemplary Khan for 18 with three sixes.
But a crucial change came when pace was introduced in the 13th over, Ziyad Ulde clean bowling the giant batsman for 38 to leave them 63 for nine and Raj soon wound things up with the first ball of the next over.
