Pakistan School win Abu Dhabi inter-school tournament

Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Pakistan School were crowned champions of the under-16 Abu Dhabi inter-school tournament to halt a losing streak after going down in two finals this season. The Pakistan School gained sweet revenge on Abu Dhabi Indian School, to whom they had earlier lost the under-14 final. They had finished second-best to Cambridge High School in the inter-school events conducted by the Abu Dhabi Cricket Council and co-sponsored by UAE Exchange Centre. Meeting ADIS for the second time in a week, Pakistan School reversed the result to emerge winners by 84 runs at Zayed Stadium. Pakistan School recovered from a precarious 76 for seven to post 143 for eight, thanks to a 56-run partnership for the seventh wicket between Waqas Afridi and Ahmad Ali Shah. Afridi hit a breezy 37 in 26 deliveries and Shah chipped in with a useful 24 not out and later grabbed two early wickets to leave ADIS struggling at 12 for four and eventually all out for 59.Shah had Justin D'Souza (2) caught off his own bowling and his opening ball partner Abid Rehan sent back Ashfaq Anwar (2) in the next over. Mohammad Esrafil (0) was run out and Shah struck again by with a delivery that got through the defence of Mafaz Bin Ahsan (0). Nithin Samuel, who came in at number three, remained unbeaten on 26. Pakistan School, put in to bat, were 17 for four but a couple of partnerships, first between the Charles brothers, Samuel (20) and Simon (29), who added 46 for the fifth wicket, and then the 56-run seventh-wicket stand between Shah and Afridi, helped them post a decent total. There was also good news for the budding young cricketers of Abu Dhabi with Dilawar Mani, the chief executive officer of Emirates Cricket Board, announcing that all matches of the inter-school tournament will be played at the nursery Oval, the new ground adjoining the main stadium.