ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army edged Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in a nail-biting inter-departmental netball final on Monday while Sindh outclassed Punjab to lift the inter-provincial title on Monday.

Following the National Men’s Netball Championship which concluded on Sunday, the Pakistan Netball Federation (PNF) separately organised the two tournaments here at the Hamidi Hall of Pakistan Sports Complex.

In a neck-and-neck contest, Army prevailed in an extra quarter following extra-time after they and PAF remained tied 34-34. They eventually on 37-35 with Abdul Haq scoring their last two goals with the second quarter requiring the teams to score two consecutive goals for victory.

With the two teams tied at 32-32 at the end of the stipulated four quarters, the teams equally shared four goals in three minutes of extra-time after which an extra quarter was played.

Goal shooter Haq put Army in front but it was cancelled out by Mohammad Akhtar before the former struck twice to seal victory.

It was an absorbing contest till the end with both teams sharing the lead from time-to-time. PAF had a 7-6 lead at the end of the first quarter before stretching their advantage to 21-18 by the end of the second.

Army hit back in the third quarter, to reduce PAF’s lead to 27-26 before outscoring them by a goal in the fourth to take the game into extra-time.

Their victory heaped further misery on PAF after Army had beaten them 31-29 in the national championship final a day earlier.

Earlier on Monday, the inter-provincial final saw Sindh and Punjab vying for honours with the former winning 35-21.

After both teams were tied 5-5 at the end of the first quarter, Sindh took a 12-10 lead by the end of the second and were firmly in control by the end of the third with a 24-14 advantage before romping to the title with another 11 goals in the final quarter.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2015

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