March 25, 2006	Saturday	Safar 24, 1427

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KARACHI, March 24: NWFP’s Saleh Mohammad, a former world No 2 and second seed, took the day’s honours by slamming a century break (120), first of the tournament, against his province contemporary in the 31st National snooker championship on Friday.

He conjured up the break in third frame to register 4-2 win to maintain a clean slate in three games. He was home 42-66, 34-58, 130-6, 73-15, 103-0, 68-39.

Though the defending champion stood tall with a century break at the same time he conceded opening two frames and it was after that he got his act together to pick up the next four with vigour and seal the fate of the match.

He is drawn to meet Punjab’s qualifier Mohammad Sadiq in the fourth group ‘B’ match Saturday at 4.00pm.

Top seed Mohammad Yousuf and third seed Naveen Perwani bulldozed Raja Rashid and Mohammad Ali by identical margin of 4-0 while fourth seed Abu Saim beat Mesam Zaidi 4-1.

Meanwhile, Punjab Cup winner, Imran Khan, halted winning run of NWFP Cup champion, Rambel Gul, by handing him a 4-3 defeat in the gruelling match. The former won the battle 38-51, 57-24, 60-41, 67-47, 7-70, 2-46, 57-37.

Results: Mohammad Yousuf (Sindh) bt Raja Rashid (Pun) 4-0 (53-42, 44-11, 64-34, 80-20); Saleh Mohammad (NWFP) bt Mohammad Hussain (NWFP) 4-2 (42-66, 34-58, 130-6, 73-15, 103-0, 68-39); Naveen Perwani (Sindh) bt Mohammad Ali (Bal) 4-0 (62-43, 72-16, 74-40, 76-8); Abu Saim (Pun) bt Mesam Zaidi (Sindh) 4-1 (52-17, 43-64, 71-17, 63-33, 64-53); Atiq Latif Bux (Sindh) bt Tahir Rasheed (Pun) 4-0 (72-17, 61-15, 39-27, 61-15); Imran Shehzad (Pun) bt Hamid Bata (NWFP) 4-2 (27-65, 47-62, 81-34, 71-4, 55-28, 80-0); Khurram Agha (Sindh) bt Jan Ali (Bal) 4-0 (87-2, 72-37, 61-32, 91-2); Shehram Changezi (Pun) bt Irfan Rasheed Khan (Sindh) 4-3 (70-32, 63-68, 22-58, 48-10, 14-68, 63-14, 56-32); Arshad Siddiq (NWFP) bt Mohammad Yousuf (Bal) 4-2 (58-40, 34-71, 60-17, 27-61, 63-40, 57-50); Vishan Gir (Sindh) bt Mehmood Khan (Bal) 4-2 (108-23, 8-65, 61-30, 41-51, 70-7, 60-30); Farhan Noor (Pun) bt Mohammad Akhlas (Sindh) 4-1 (23-71, 59-25, 63-29, 62-33, 58-40); Imran Khan (Pun) bt Rambel Gul (NWFP) 4-3 (38-51, 57-24, 60-41, 67-47, 7-70, 2-46, 57-37); Jawed Ansari (Sindh) bt Mohammad Sharif (Pun) 4-1 (61-33, 58-49, 64-29, 13-63, 52-51).

Saturday’s fixtures: 10.00am: Salman Shaikh (Sindh) v Tahir Rasheed (Pun); Saqib Butt (Pun) v Hamid Bata (NWFP); Mohammad Asif (Pun) v Jan Ali (Bal); Imtiaz Tipu (Pun) v Irfan Rasheed Khan (Sindh). 12.00pm: Sohail Shehzad (Sindh) v Raja Rashid (Pun); Raees Khan (Pun) v Mohammad Hussain (NWFP); Inam-ur-Rehman (NWFP) v Mohammad Ali (Bal); Minhas Malik (Pun) v Mesam zaidi (Sindh). 2.00pm: Atiq Latif Bux (Sindh) v Kashif Khan (Sindh); Imran Shehzad (Pun) v Asif Haris (Pun); Khurram Agha (Sindh) v Nauman Awan (NWFP); Shehram Changezi (Pun) v Mustafa Hyder (Bal). 4.00pm: Mohammad Yousuf (Sindh) v Kamran Razzak (Sindh); Saleh Mohammad (NWFP) v Mohammad Sadiq (Pun); Naveen Perwani (Sindh) v Shah Khan (NWFP); Abu Saim (Pun) v Abdul Rehman (Bal).