KARACHI: Maintaining their consistent run, country’s top two former cueists — Imran Shehzad and Mohammad Sajjad — set a date with each other by winning their respective semi-finals in contrasting styles in the sixth National Bank of Pakistan ranking snooker championship at the bank’s sports complex Wednesday.

The 39-year-old seasoned campaigner Imran was stretched to limits by local player Abdul Sattar on way to registering 6-5 victory while Sajjad denied holder Asjad Iqbal a chance to retain the title with a 6-1 victory.

Both the finalists have won NBP title once. Sajjad has won the inaugural event in 2009 while Imran captured the title in 2011.

In a battle of nerves, Imran recovered from 4-5 down to clinch the last two frames and reach final of the event second time.

Imran, who routed top seed and national champion Mohammad Asif Toba 5-4 in the quarters the other day, won the duel 89-28, 42-52, 71-47, 88-25, 54-66, 33-82, 49-62, 55-41, 42-82, 78-31, 44-38.

Contrary to the first semi-final, Sajjad appeared to be in a punishing mood as he interrupted the run of three-time NBP title champion Asjad in convincing fashion.

Sajjad, who has so far piled up four century breaks, took his tally to five hammering 105 in the third frame against Asjad.

Sajjad was home 63-51, 58-43, 127-4, 71-49, 40-71, 67-13, 78-38.

Results:

Semi-finals: Imran Shehzad (Punjab) bt Abdul Sattar (Sindh) 6-5 (89-28, 42-52, 71-47, 88-25, 54-66, 33-82, 49-62, 55-41, 42-82, 78-31, 44-38); Mohammad Sajjad (Punjab) bt Asjad Iqbal (Punjab) 6-1 (63-51, 58-43, 127-4, 71-49, 40-71, 67-13, 78-38).

Thursday’s fixtures:

At 10am: (best of 15 frames final) Imran Shehzad (Punjab) v Mohammad Sajjad (Punjab).

Published in Dawn, September 18th , 2014