Sports

Maldives beat hapless Bhutan

Maldives beat hapless Bhutan

By Himalayan News Service

Bangladesh's Raysa Habib (right) drives the ball past Sri Lankau0092s Hiruni Perera during their first South Asian Womenu0092s Basketball Championship match in Kathmandu on Friday. Phto: THT

Kathmandu, April 1 The Maldives finished third in the first South Asian Women’s Basketball Championship here at the National Sports Council covered hall today. Maldives defeated Bhutan 69-46 to claim the bronze medal in the five-team competition. Ubaihallu Hisma top scored for the team with 18 points as the Maldives accumulated six points from four matches. Maldives took a 19-11 lead and won the second quarter 16-6. Bhutan came back strongly in the third quarter winning 21-12 but the Maldives regained their momentum and took the final quarter 22-8 to seal victory. Earlier, Sri Lanka overwhelmed Bangladesh 115-11. Ekanayake Anjalee top scored in the match with 15 points. The Lankans scored 20-plus points in all four quarters, while their opponents Bangladesh reached double figures in total with a two points in the final quarter. Sri Lanka opened with a 23-4 lead before winning the second quarter 22-2. They dominated the third period 28-3 before winning the final quarter 42-2. Nepal and Sri Lanka — who will play in winners-take-all encounter on Saturday — are tied of the top of the five-team round-robin league with six points each from three matches. Bhutan and Bangladesh have three points each with one match remaining.