Arab Unity, Pakistan Academy in final

Fresh from their win in the Al Rawabi inter-schools final in Dubai, Arab Unity School trounced Sheikh Rashid School by 112 runs to enter the final of the Konica Cricket Cup inter-schools cricket league.

The event is sponsored by the Apollo Studio and Stores and conducted by the Sharjah Cricket Council.

Put in to bat, Arab Unity were given an early fright when they lost three quick wickets for 26 runs. However, opener and skipper Wasim Rahman led from the front and added 55 runs with Sheikh Zain.Wasim hit 46 (41b, 6x4s) while Zain scored a patient 22 off 69 balls.

A twin blow at the score of 81 brought the match alive but in walked burly Zeeshan Anjum, who immediately stamped his authority and that decisively turned the match in favour of his team.

Zeeshan hit a sparkling unbeaten 59 (61b 6x4, 2x6) that almost took the game away from their opponents. He first added 23 for the sixth wicket and continued the good work with another 31 for the seventh wicket and then in the slog overs went berserk to add 40 runs for the unbroken eighth wicket. The last five overs produced as many as 51 runs that ultimately did the trick.

Facing a stiff target of 176, Sheikh Rashid School were up against a highly-charged attack and caved in without much resistance.

Qasim Zubair was lethal and wrecked the innings with four for 17 in eight overs while Sufiyan Javed (2 for 25) also made his presence felt and proved an able ally.

Their exploits reduced the opponents to a pathetic 19 for five from where there could never recover and were ultimately bowled out for a paltry 63 in 18.1 overs.

In another semifinal Pakistan Education Academy defeated Modern High School by six wickets.

Chasing a stiff victory target of 178 for victory, both their openers ran themselves out. However, one-drop Naseeb (41 off 42 balls with 4 fours) and No 4 Mudassar played with responsibility and added 83 match-winning runs for the third wicket.

Earlier, the Modern High School batted well to post a highly challenging total of 177 in 32.2 overs. Opener Aftab (37 off 44 balls) set the tempo of the innings while one-drop Ryan (35 off 39 balls with 4 fours) and No 4 Krishna (23 off 26 balls) carried on the good work.

Summarised scores:
Arab Unity School 175 for 7 in 40 overs. (Wasim 46, Zain 22, Zeeshan 59 n.o, Khurram 2 for 24, Sajid 2 for 33) bt Sheikh Rashid School 63 in 18.1 overs. (Qasim 4 for 17, Sufiyan 2 for 25). Man of the Match: Zeeshan.

The Modern High School 177 in 32.2 overs (Aftab 37, Ryan 35, Krishna 23, Kunal 25, Naseeb Ullah 2 for 30, Umer Shah 3 for 27) lost to Pak Education Academy, 178 for 4 in 34.3 overs (Atif 24, Naseeb 41, Muddasir 30, Yasir 23 n.o, Fahad 29 n.o). Man of the Match: Naseeb Ullah.