March 9, 2006	Thursday	Safar 8, 1427

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KARACHI, March 8: Top seed Irfan Rasheed Khan captured maiden title of his career when he downed fighting former champion Mohammad Akhlas 5-3 in the final to lift the 14th Sindh Snooker Cup at the Snooker Zone on Wednesday.

Irfan, 33, took three and a half hour to register 64-25, 36-72, 77-52, 67-22, 56-28, 22-72, 44-61, 61-28 victory over his opponent in the best of nine frames encounter.

Irfan had a firm control on the match until the fifth frame as he was enjoying a commendable 4-1 lead and was only a frame away to chalk up convincing win.

However, the scenario changed following a great fight back by Akhlas who won two back to back frames to reduce the deficit 3-4.

Needing only one frame to win, Irfan finally capitalised his chances of pocketing coloured balls and sealed the fate by taking the eight frame.

Playing his second Sindh Cup final after almost five years, Irfan took a flying start winning the opener 64-25 only to see Akhlas drawing level by grabbing the next 72-36.

The former Pakistan No. 11 whose best performance was making it to the last eight of National championship and a ranking tournament in 1999, got his rhythm and seized control on the match by taking the next three frames 77-52, 67-22, 56-28.

But never say dying 51-year-old veteran Akhlas, winner of 2002 Sindh Cup, stormed back in the match by pocketing the balls through difficult angles to clinch sixth and seventh frames one after the other 72-22, 61-44 to trail 3-4.

Irfan who plays for Area Snooker Club got his act together and wrapped up the match winning the eighth frame 61-28.

He received Rs15,000 while the losing finalist was rewarded Rs8,000.

Highest break award of Rs1,000 went to Vishan Gir for slamming a break of 88.

A record number of 320 players participated in the tournament.

Results:

(Final) Irfan Rasheed Khan bt Mohammad Akhlas 5-3 (64-25, 36-72, 77-52, 67-22, 56-28, 22-72, 44-61, 61-28).