August 02, 2007	Thursday	Rajab 17, 1428

KOLKATA, Aug 1: Pakistan kept their unbeaten record intact after winning their last pool-stage match with ease against South Africa in the second Commonwealth Men’s Volleyball Championship on Wednesday.

From Pool ‘A’ hosts India and Australia, while from Pool ‘B’ Pakistan and South Africa have qualified for the semi-finals, to be played on Friday.

Pakistan will now face either hosts India or Australia in the semi-finals. India and Australia, both already having reached the semis, will clash on Thursday to decide the Pool ‘A’ winners. The Pool ‘A’ runners-up will play Pakistan.

Encouraged by two consecutive victories against New Zealand and defending champions Canada earlier in the tournament, Pakistan, brimming with confidence, continued their rhythm in their third and last pool match against a strong South Africa outfit to seal a one-sided 3-0 victory.

Playing in full flow, the green shirts clinched the first set 25-18. In the second set Pakistan took the lead due to powerful spikes through Mohib Rasool and Farooq Khan, supported by setter Irfan Nawaz who distributed intelligently to help his side win the set 25-22.

Buoyed by the second set win, Pakistan got the pace and impetus they needed to finish the business in the third set. They scored some quick points to leave the South African defence disjointed. Taking advantage of the opponents’ unforced errors, Pakistan enhanced the pressure on them to take the set finally 25-20 and the match 3-0.

In the other matches played on Wednesday, Australia thrashed Nigeria 3-0 with set scores 25-16, 25-12 and 25-15 while Sri Lanka outclassed Bangladesh 3-1 with set scores being 20-25, 25-17, 25-18 and 25-21.

Thursday’s matches:

India v Australia; Sri Lanka v Nigeria; Canada v New Zealand.