March 24, 2006	Friday	Safar 23, 1427

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LAHORE, March 23: Four-goal Shahbaz Ali, including a hat trick, and three by Amir Shahzad steered defending champions Punjab to rout Azad Jammu and Kashmir 11-0 in the final of the Inter- provincial Under-17 hockey championship at National Hockey Stadium on Thursday. Punjab led the first half 7-0.

The goal rush started when Mohammad Irfan drew the first blood scoring a field goal in the 5th minute. Amir doubled the lead, scoring his first in the 11th minute through a field attempt.

Shahbaz, who was declared the best scorer of the championship, opened his account in the 17th minute. Six minutes later, Shahbaz struck his second and completed his hat trick in the 25th minute to put Punjab 5-0 up.

Umer Bhutta consolidated the lead 6-0 in the 28th minute. Shahbaz completed his tally in the 30th minute.

Maintaining the pace after the break, Punjab showed no mercy for the rivals and added four more goals.

Two goals by Javed Ali (36th and 40th minute) and then back- to-back strikes by Amir (50th, 69th minute) ended the misery of AJK.

Balochistan finished third by thrashing Sindh 4-0. Humair scored two goals (12th, 65th minute) while Rehmat Ali (16th) and Jahangir Khan (24th) added one each.

Punjab’s Rashid Mahmood was declared the best player of the championship.