KARACHI: Fancied Aga Khan University outplayed Neighbourhood Club by 30-15 points to win the Pakistan Day women’s exhibition basketball match that created history at the Arambagh court on Thursday.

Conversion of Arambagh into a family park had encouraged organisers to stage women’s basketball match that was never played before in its over five decade history.

Taking advantage of holiday, a good number of families including women’s and girls of the adjoining areas turned up in a large number to watch the match.

The first two quarters were fought neck-and-neck between the two teams which is evident from their scores. The AKU led the first quarter 4-3 while Neighbourhood won the second 6-5 as the two outfits were tied nine-all at the half time.

However, the AKU dominated the following two quarters and kept scoring at repeated interval. They garnered 12 points against none in the third quarter to seize 21-9 lead in the match.

Maintaining the same pace the winners added nine more points to their tally as against six to clinch the match 30-15. Amna Siddiqui top scored for winners with eight points and was ably assisted by Tooba and Aqsa five apiece.

Fatima also scored eight for the losers but in vain. Rija Safdar and Minza scored four apiece.

The match was organised by the Karachi Basketball Association to commemorate Pakistan Day. Women’s officials of the KBA Amna Mukhtar and Zaima Tariq were in attendance.

President of the Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA) Prof Ejaz Ahmed Faruqi graced the final. Also present on the occasion were KBA president Ghulam Mohammad and secretary Tariq Hussain.

Meanwhile, the match between Hyderabad and Karachi men’s team was in progress at the time of filing this report.

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2017