December 19, 2003	Friday	Shawwal 24, 1424

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KARACHI, Dec 18: Alok Kumar helped India take over the lead on the second day of the Indo-Pak Snooker Series 2003 for the Peace Cup on Thursday at the Karachi Club.

Pakistan had a slender 6-5 lead on the opening day thanks to Saleh Mohammad, who won four of those six points. Comfortably placed 13-8 at one stage on Thursday, Pakistan surrendered the lead when Alok in tremendous form pinched 10 points for the visitors, snatching five points in the Lucky Seven, when he beat Saleh Mohammad 69/48.

When play resumed on the second day, Khurram Agha beat the two time Asian champion Yasin Merchant 102/9, 39/70, 67/57, helped on with a break of 95.

Khurram grabbed three points in this match two for winning two singles and one for his stunning break of 95.

Yasin on the other hand took a point for India by winning the second frame as Pakistan increased the overnight lead to 9-6.

In the next singles encounter Alok Kumar edged out Naveen Perwani by two frames to one, enabling India to draw nearer 8-10. But the Mohammad Yousuf grabbed three points for Pakistan, breezing past Manan Chandra 3-0, as Pakistan increased the lead 13-8.

But with Saleh losing five points in the lucky seven against Alok, India drew abreast 13-13. Now in a better frame of mind the Indian pair of Alok and Pankaj Advani routed Saleh and Yousuf 3-0, to help India take over the lead for the first time in the series 16-13.

In the last match on the second day, the Indian combination of Yasin and Manan had the better of Khurram and Naveen 2-1 to see India increase the lead further 18-14, after the second day’s play.

Following were the results from game one.

DOUBLES: Alok Kumar and Manan Chandra (India) beat Khurram Hussain Agha and Mohammad Yousuf (Pakistan) 2-1: 29/75, 70/30, 66/28. Pankaj Advani and Yasin Merchant (India) beat Saleh Mohammad and Naveen Perwani (Pakistan) 2-1: 50/43, 17/103, 99/13.

SINGLES: Saleh Mohammad (Pakistan) beat Pankaj Advani (India) 2-1: 52/77, 74/32, 65/0. Khurram Hussain Agha (Pakistan) eat Yasin Merchant (India) 2-1: 102/9, 39/70, 67/57. Alok Kumar (India) beat Naveen Perwani (Pakistan) 2-1: 131/8, 55/66, 82/4. Mohammad Yousuf (Pakistan) beat Manan Chandra 3-0: 65/28, 69/35, 69/45.

LUCKY SEVEN: Alok Kumar (India) beat Saleh Mohammad (Pakistan 69/48.

DOUBLES: Alok Kumar and Pankaj Advani (India) beat Saleh Mohammad and Mohammad Yousuf 3-0: 69/68, 85/2, 89/0. Yasin Merchant and Manan Chandra (India) beat Khurram Agha and Naveen Perwani (Pakistan) 2-1: 95/19, 57/70, 63/20.