KARACHI, Nov 11: Pakistan squandered their opening day lead in the Ravi Kirloskar Trophy golf in Bangalore on Thursday. The competition was again intense and when the veteran Ashok Malik sank his putt on the 18th hole.

In the amateurs category, Manav Das and Chiragh Kumar took a slender lead over Pakistan’s A. Hai and Safdar Khan. Hai and Safdar were three down with five holes to go when the amazing turnaround happened.

A birdie on the 14th by Hai whittled the lead and on the 16th hole Chiragh seemed to have closed the match with a birdie.

Safdar needed to putt from eight feet to get a birdie and stay in the match. The Pakistani held his nerve and ensured the hole was halved and the match continued. Hai and Safdar crafted a draw with successive birdies in the 17th and 18th holes.