December 01, 2007	Saturday	Ziqa’ad 20, 1428

KARACHI, Nov 30: Saleh Mohammad who heads current national rankings fought tooth and nail to impose a 5-4 victory over former Pakistan No 1 Khurram Agha to enter final of the 11th Karachi Club Open snooker challenge on the penultimate day at KC premises.

He is slated to meet reigning national champion Naveen Perwani, who in the other pre-final bulldozed Abu Saim 5-2.

The best of nine frames final between Saleh and Naveen will be played on Saturday at 3.00pm.

Saleh, who jumped to the top slot of NR after picking up two ranking titles – Style Cup and Latif Masters – earlier this year, was jittery in the beginning conceding opening two frames 41-55, 45-67. He managed to reduce the deficit by taking the third frame 69-19 only to trail 1-3 by losing the fourth 33-67.

He made a comeback and saved the match slipping from his hands by pocketing the next three frames 77-43, 106-1, 65-32 in one hand to enjoy a 4-3 lead. He also conjured up a break of 91 in the sixth frame.

Needing just a frame to wrap up the match, he lost his concentration, losing the eighth 7-75, to be tied 4-4. Taking advantage of Khurram’s lapse in the decisive ninth frame, Saleh was home 76-73. The former had missed the black ball at pocket four which proved costly.

The fifth seed Naveen, on the other hand, had an easy sailing over the seventh seed Abu Saim on the way to making the final grade. Naveen, who is also defending champion, posted a 104-23, 78-46, 48-71, 17-71, 91-1, 61-7, 60-53 victory over his opponent.

He also built up splendid breaks of 85, 68, 59 and 55 in first, second, fifth and sixth frames. He already had to his credit a century break (104) against Vishan Gir the other day.

Results (semi-finals):

Naveen Perwani bt Abu Saim 5-2 (104-23, 78-46, 48-71, 17-71, 91-1, 61-7, 60-53); Saleh Mohammad bt Khurram Agha 5-4 (41-55, 45-67, 69-19, 33-67, 77-43, 106-1, 65-32, 7-75, 76-73).