The Hindu : Sport / Billiards & Snooker : India clinches a thriller

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 12, 2005

Sport

Sport - Billiards & Snooker

India clinches a thriller

Karachi: India overcame a gritty Pakistan fightback to win the 2005 Lawrencepur snooker Challenge 39-38 but not before the event went to the wire at the Karachi Club here on Saturday.

Pakistan's Mohammad Yousuf had to win the last Lucky Seven singles against Manan Chandra with a half- century break to force sudden-death. But the 1993 world champion and 14-time former national champion managed a 64-41 victory.

Pakistan appeared dead and buried when it started the final day's play 20-31 behind with a minimum of 17 points for grabs.

But it got a lifeline in the fourth match of the day when Imran Shahzad not only defeated Manan Chandra 20-58, 73-20, 114-10 but also conjured up the maiden century break of the series to reduce India's lead to 35-30.

Mohammad Yousuf, in the fifth match, then recovered to beat Asian champion Alok Kumar 8-131, 76-35, 60-45 after the Indian cueists had started briskly with breaks of 74 and 57 in the first frame.

Yousuf replied with a 52 in the second frame as both the players contributed three points each to their teams cause.

Pakistan captain Naveen Perwani kept Pakistan's hopes alive when he defeated Devendra Joshi 81-13, 72-48, 33-61 in the penultimate three-frame singles match to trim India's lead to 39-35. — PTI

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