SMK Seri Setia clinch U18 cricket crown for fifth consecutive year
KUCHING: SMK Seri Setia won the Sarawak Schools Sports Council ( MSSS) U18 Inter- School Cricket Championship for the fifth consecutive year when they beat SMK Paku by seven wickets in the final at SK Tassuda ground here.
Seri Setia were in scintillating form and won all their matches, beating SMK SHOAW, SM Sains Kuching Utara and SMK Tunku Abdul Rahman in the preliminary rounds before ousting SMK Semerah Padi in the semi-finals.
SMK Seri Setia won the toss but let SMK Paku bat first, and later went on to chalk up 59 runs all out in 17 overs.
The bowlers who impressed were Padjar ( 2 for 11), Aairen Alam Chew (2 for 11), M Haffizie (2 for 8) and Shahrul (2 for 2).
Seri Setia replied with 60 runs for three wickets in 9.4 overs. Aairen Alam Chew was the top scorer with 20 not out supported by skipper Padjar 18 not out while Paku’s best bowler Kenny Kuan was 2 for 10 and Kelvin Kuan 1 for 16.
In joint third placings were SM Sains Kuching Utara and SMK Semerah Padi.
SMK Seri Setia earned more honours when Aairen Alam Chew bagged the Best Allrounder award while Padjar Hadar was nominated as the Best Bowler.
Winners of the other awards were Kelvin Kuan of SMK Paku ( Best Batsman) and Shafiq Yusuf of Sains Kuching Utara ( Best Wicketkeeper).
“We are proud of all the boys who have worked very hard and they have shown good discipline and strong f ight ing spirit during the competition,” said Sarawak Cricket Association president Awang Mahyan Awang Mohammad.
“We are also hopeful that the Sarawak Education Department would be sending an U18 team to compete in the MSSM Cricket Championship in Negeri Sembilan from March 24 to 29,” he added.
Mahyan gave away the prizes and was accompanied by Sarawak Sports Corporation Sports Development Division manager Ahmad Rodzli Hashim, Kuching District Education Office human resources development unit head Yazid Belon, Sri Setia principal Muhd Nur Aiman and Sains Kuching Utara principal Dr Norsiah Suhaili.