August 21, 2008	Thursday	Sha'aban 18, 1429

KARACHI, Aug 20: Hosts Pakistan had a dismal start in the Pentangular 6-Red Snooker team series after both its teams, particularly ‘A’, performed poorly tasting shock defeats on the opening day at the Karachi Club on Wednesday.

Unfancied Bahrain took the crown by storm thrashing Pakistan ‘A’ 7-3 in group ‘A’, minimising their chances to qualify for the Friday’s final.

In the two group ‘B’ matches, Pakistan’s second string completed its engagements losing both the matches to India and Thailand.

After suffering a 2-8 defeat at the hands of arch rivals India, the Pakistan ‘B’ team went down fighting 4-6 to Thailand.

Bahrain took a flying start when Hamid Dhaif stunned Saleh Mohammad 3-0 by not allowing him any room to make a breakthrough. The former was home 38-27, 46-8, 44-0.

The home team restored parity when Naveen Perwani chalked up a 3-0 win over Mohammad Omar, the score being 61-4, 47-5, 34-23.

However, Bahrain’s top player Habib Subah sealed the fate by getting the better of former Pakistan No 1 Khurram Agha straight 42-12, 46-13, 40-15.

“Missed chances cost us the match as the 6-ball contest is anybody’s game,” Pakistan team captain Naveen Perwani told Dawn after the match.

Earlier, India opened their campaign on an impressive note giving a 8-2 drubbing to Pakistan ‘B’.

Playing their second successive match in the evening, Pakistan ‘B’ after enjoying a 4-2 lead, went down 4-6 to superior Thailand.

Results:

India bt Pakistan ‘B’ 8-2.

Manan Chandra bt Mohammad Sultan 2-1 (36-8, 36-17, 21-35); Yasin Merchant bt Vishan Gir 3-0 (39-11, 47-12, 54-11); Pankaj Advani bt Qasim Kamani 2-1 (35-16, 54-0, 23-39).

Bahrain bt Pakistan ‘A’ 7-3.

Hamid Dhaif bt Saleh Mohammad 3-0 (38-27, 46-8, 44-0); Mohammad Omar lost to Naveen Perwani 0-3 (4-61, 5-47, 23-34); Habib Subah bt Khurram Agha 3-0 (42-12, 46-13, 40-15).

Thailand bt Pakistan ‘B’ 6-4.

Thepchaiya Un-Nooh lost to Vishan Gir 1-2 (32-11, 14-45, 19-44); Noppon Saengkham lost to Qasim Kamani 1-2 (36-10, 12-45, 1-51); Chinnacrit Yaowannasiri bt Sultan Mohammad 3-0 (31-30, 48-1, 44-6).Note: (One point for each frame won and one bonus point for the winning team).

Thursday’s fixtures:

UAE v Bahrain at 11.00am; India v Thailand at 2.00pm; Pakistan ‘A’ v UAE at 5.00pm