SPORTS

Kathmandu Monday February 26, 2001 Falgun 15,  2057.

South Point clinch title

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Feb 25 - South Point School clinched the Invitational Super 8’s Inter-School cricket tournament defeating the defending champions Laboratory School by 29 runs in the final played today at the St. Xavier’s Jawalakhel School grounds.

South Point School, after put in to bat by Laboratory team, managed a total of 63 runs. The main architect of the score were today’s openers Jain and Rajan, who had to fill in the opening slot as per the rules of the tournament which requires rotation of batting order. Against the expectation, both of them played with ease scoring 23 and 14 runs coming off 13 and 11 balls respectively.

The total was hardly huge and it looked as if the strong Laboratory team could surpass it on any given day. However, the rule which required teams to rotate batting order did not work in favour of them. The lower order batsmen of Laboratory, who had to open in the match could not give the team a good start and the whole team crumbled under some inspired bowling from the South Point boys. Laboratory boys could manage only 34 runs losing six wickets in 7 overs, despite brave knock from Utsav who scored 16 personal runs.

South Point boys entered the final after defeating hosts St. Xavier’s by two wickets in the semi-final match which was played earlier today morning. St. Xaviers, scored 61 runs in the allotted 7 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat. Posan gave a good start to his team scoring 23 runs, though a minor collapse in the middle order made sure that they do not put up a big total, which seemed a certainty at a stage.

The South Point boys started well as Rajan scored 23 runs of 13 deliveries. Though St. Xavier’s ran out 6 of the South Point batsmen, some simple fielding errors cost them the match. South Point reached the required total to win the game with one ball spare.

In the second semi-finals played between Laboratory School and Future Star, the defending champions elected to field after winning the toss. The Future Star boys managed to score 48 runs losing 6 wickets in 7 overs. Chasing an easy target Laboratory boys won the match losing 4 wickets with 5 balls to spare in their 7 overs. Biplav and Anil scored 14 and 13 respectively for their team.

The winners and the runners-up were presented with certificates and medals in the closing ceremony by Rev Fr James J Donnely, SJ, chief guest for the function.