IMPHAL, FEB 19: Displaying nerves of steel, runners-up Maharashtra stunned holders Bengal 68-65 to claim gold in the women's basketball championship of the fifth National Games today.The roller-coaster match at the Kuman Lampak Indoor Stadium here bubbled with excitement as the lead kept oscillating between the two teams till the very end of the game. Beginning with a comfortable lead, Bengal lost midway through the first half and trailed 37-38 at half-time.The bronze in the event was won by Andhra Pradesh who defeated Punjab 75-61 in an equally exciting match.Bengal today started confidently with veteran Aparna Ghosh leading the charge. But halfway through the opening session, they lost direction as they adopted strategies which failed. The Maharashtra women, known for their penchant for long-range shooting, caught up at 18-18. From there, they started maintaining a lead.The lead, which for the most part remained with the winners, was always narrow, and the Bengal women, capable of salvaging thegame from an extreme point of disadvantage, looked as if they would have the last laugh.But the Maharashtra women, particularly skipper Arnika Gujar and sister Mithila, took the game away from the holders by giving a stunning display of long-range shooting. At least thrice during the game, when Bengal narrowed down the lead to a single point, Arnika and Mithila shot three-pointers to demoralise the Bengalis.At one stage, Maharashtra enjoyed a lead of 13 points (58-45). With about three minutes to go, Bengal again went into the lead for the last time at 65-64, when veteran international Aparna gave a brilliant demonstration of court craft and scored an under-the-basket point.In the counter-attack, Maharashtra caged two more points to wrap of the issue at 68-65.For Maharashtra Ivy Cherian, the pivot, top-scored with 20 points. She was supported by Mithila (12, 2x3) and Arnika Gujar (10, 2x3).Third Place: AP 75 (D Anandhi 20, K Yamuna 14) bt Punjab 61 (Reena 25) HT 40-42.
