August 14, 2007	Tuesday	Rajab 29, 1428

COIMBATORE (India), Aug 13: India, the Asian Central Zone Volleyball Championship winners, overwhelmed Pakistan in the eighth encounter 3-2 to win the inaugural Test series between the two countries 5-3 on Sunday.

The eighth competition of the nine-match Test series was well contested by both the teams displaying fine performance. However, the Indian team took advantage of their better blocking techniques, more powerful spikes against Pakistan to lead 8-6 at the first technical time out of the opening set.

The hosts’ ace spikers – Sube Singh and Mandeep Singh – played major role for the Indians who won the first set 25-21.

The second set proved to be the longest of the match with both teams crossing the 25-point barrier while playing some tough volleyball.

For both teams, it was a test of nerves in which Pakistan finally managed to pocket two points in a row to take the set 31-29 and levelled the game 1-1.

Pakistan took lead in the early stages of the third set as excellent form was shown by their ace spikers – Naseer Ahmed and Mohaib Rasool –, ably sported by Bakhat Rasal organising quick combination tactics as the tourists finished the set in their favour 25-20.

In the fourth set, India fought back to maintain the lead and never allowed their rivals to move ahead of them. The hosts won the set 25-21 to level the game 2-2.

Some gruelling volleyball was witnessed in the fifth and final set in all departments of the game. However, India ultimately clinched the set 15-13 and the match 3-2.—Agencies