Abu Dhabi: Anwar Khan, the captain of Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Pakistan School, put up an exceptional performance with a brilliant century chasing 130 to guide his team to the UAE Xchange Abu Dhabi School League U14 title.
Anwar celebrated his third century of the competition to almost single-handedly lead his team to an eight-wicket win over Abu Dhabi Indian School (ADIS) in the final at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.
Opening the innings, Anwar dominated a 50-run stand in six overs for the first wicket with Mehran Khan (5).
Amjad Khan (1), who came in at the fall of the first wicket, was dismissed two runs later, but that was the only success ADIS enjoyed as Anwar and Obaid ur Rehman (10 not out) saw them through.
Anwar’s 54-ball knock was highlighted with 19 boundaries. The wicketkeeper batsman won both the Man of the Match in the final and Most Valuable Player of the competition awards.
ADIS electing to take first lease of the wicket were given a sound start by openers Zaid Shaikh (27) and Atul Murali (19), the pair putting on 60 in 10.3 overs. Nathan D’Mello chipped in with 22, but the rest of the batting failed to take the momentum forward.
The two schools will meet again in the U16 final at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
The team:
The Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Pakistan School team: Anwar Khan (Captain), Haji Ur Rehman, Mehran Khan, Amjad Khan, Obaid Ur Rehman, Faizan Ullah, Kashif Khan, Hai Ur Rehman Jnr, Asghar Ur Rehman, Israr Ullah, Ahmad Abbas, Zeeshan Ullah.
