In a rain-shortened final match of the Inter-Region U13 Tournament 2022-23, leg-spinner Shoaib Khalid put up an exceptional performance, taking six wickets for just seven runs in three overs, leading Peshawar Region to a six-wicket victory over Lahore Region at the Jawad Club in Faisalabad on Friday.
Persistent rain and a wet outfield delayed the start of the match, which was ultimately reduced to a 12-over per side game. Opting to bat first, Lahore Region could only manage 50 runs, with Inshal Chaudhary (16 runs off 21 balls, including 2 fours) being the only player to score in double digits.
In reply, Peshawar Region achieved the target of 51 runs in the 10th over, losing four wickets. Mohammad Saad (17 not out) was the top scorer for Peshawar Region. With this win, Peshawar Region claimed the title and also pocketed PKR 350,000 as the winning prize, while Lahore Region had to settle for the PKR 250,000 runners-up cash prize.
The match saw some excellent performances, and Dera Murad Jamali’s Shees Qadir was named the best player of the tournament for scoring 170 runs and taking ten wickets. The young cricketer was awarded a trophy and cash prize of PKR 30,000. Other notable performers in the tournament were Abdullah Javed (Karachi Region), who was named the Best Batter of the Tournament, Aliyan Shah (Peshawar Region), who was named the Best Bowler of the Tournament, Sufiyan Kamran (Karachi Region), who was named the Best Wicketkeeper of the Tournament, and Sudais Ahmed (Abbottabad Region), who was named the Best Fielder of the Tournament.
In summary, Peshawar Region’s victory was a well-deserved one, and the team put up a great show in the tournament. The young players have shown a lot of promise, and we can expect to see some of them shining on the national and international stages in the future.