September 20, 2003	Saturday	Rajab 22, 1424

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KARACHI, Sept 19: Cousins Mansoor Zaman and Farrukh Zaman notched-up sparkling straight game victories to set up an all-Pakistan semifinal clash in the CNS international squash championship on Friday.

Farrukh, who produced a dazzling show the other day by sending fourth seed French Renan Lavigne home in the first round, sent Egypt’s Mohammad Abbas packing with a 15-6, 15-14, 15-8 victory at Pakistan Navy Roshan Khan-Jahangir Khan Squash Complex.

While the opening game proved to be a cakewalk for the Pakistani, the Egyptian came out of his grove with lots of fireworks in the second as both fought neck-and-neck entertaining the partisan crowd.

After winning the first game, Farrukh was given a testing time in the second by Abbas who came from 2-8 down to 6-8. Still breathing down Farrukh’s neck, Abbas kept fighting and produced a number of winners to reduce the margin from 7-10 to 10-all.

Yet there was no respite for Farrukh as tall and lanky Egyptian kept on fighting and equalised 11-11, 12-12, 13-13, and 14-14. Abbas finally lost the game as Farrukh, who was depending on power cross court shots and irresistible drop shots, emerged as 15-14 winner.

Abbas, the world No 25, once again seemed to be threatening the local star in the third game when he came back from 1-5 down to put the scores on an even keel at 5-5, 6-6 and then 7-7. Farrukh, currently placed at No 56 in the world ranking, wrapped up the proceedings winning the game 15-8 and the 37-minute encounter.

Second seed Mansoor had smooth sailing when he disposed of another Egyptian Hisham Mohd Ashour 15-8, 15-9 15-9 in 24 minutes.

Unlike Farrukh, Mansoor restricted Ashour at the back of the court and utilised his international experience to clinch the first game 15-8 and then the match quite easily.

Ashour was a mismatch and was hapless against Mansoor’s exquisite cross courts shots and backhand volleys and lost the second game 9-15.

While Mansoor was in complete command, mostly playing from the T, the Egyptian gave even a worse performance in the third game. All the visitor could do was to come closer at the earlier stage of the game and tied the scores at 4-all. Mansoor, having better control over the game, scored a facile 15-9 victory to move ahead.

Young Pakistani qualifier Farhan Mehboob, who surprised the followers with an upset 3-2 first round victory over world No 26 Nick Mathew of England on Thursday, lost to Englishman Adrian Grant 13-15, 3-15, 7-15.

Another Pakistani qualifier Yasir Butt, who was lucky to reach the quarterfinals after Egypt’s Omar Elborolossy retired following 15-2 loss in the first game, could not match the top seed Gregory Gaultier of France in the last eight.

The Frenchman, who meets Grant in the semifinal, defeated Yasir 15-7, 15-12, 15-12 after a 37-minute clash.

Results (quarterfinals):

Gregory Gaultier (France) bt Yasir Butt (Pakistan) 15-7, 15- 12, 15-12; Adrian Grant (England) bt Farhan Mehboob (Pakistan) 15-13, 15-3, 15-7; Farrukh Zaman (Pakistan) bt Mohammad Abbas (Egypt) 15-6, 15-14, 15-8; Mansoor Zaman (Pakistan) bt Hisham Mohd Ashour (Egypt) 15-8, 15-9, 15-9.

Saturday’s fixtures:

Semifinals: Gregory Gaultier (France) v Adrian Grant (England) at 3.00pm; Farrukh Zaman (Pakistan) v Mansoor Zaman (Pakistan) at 4.30pm.