ISLAMABAD: After an exciting contest, Islamabad overpowered Rawalpindi to move into the final of the Inter-division Basketball Championship here at Hamidi Hall of the Pakistan Sports Complex on Saturday.

Islamabad will face Sargodha in the final, which qualified for the decider after defeating Karachi in the other semi-final.

In the Islamabad-Rawalpindi semi-final, both teams exhibited superb performance as by the end of fourth set the score was 55-55. Then, in extra time, Islamabad finished with 66 against Rawalpindi’s 64.

Yasir Abbas excelled with 15 points closely followed by Rizwan Khursheed (13) and Usman Awan (12). While for Rawalpindi, Waqar Amin was the top-scorer with 15 points followed by Ahmed Ali (12).

Earlier in the first semi-final which was also a thriller, Sargodha edged out Karachi 67-65.

Meanwhile, in the inter-department championship, which is also being played at the same venue, defending champions Army after defeating Wapda moved into the final, where they will face PAF.

Army, who registered consecutive victories in the pool round, outclassed Wapda in the semi-final 85-44.

Ammar Tughlab was the top scorer for Army with 18 baskets, while Mohammad Shahbaz scored 17 and Farhad Khan 12 baskets while Aqib was main fighter for Wapda who scored 10 points for his team.

Army will face PAF, which reached the final after thrashing POF Wah 78-41 in the semi-final.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2019