KARACHI, Nov 20: Pakistan’s star cueist Saleh Muhammad clawed his way back from 1-3 deficit to topple fancied Joseph Meara of Ireland 4-3 to remain on course for a knock-out last 32 round of IBSF World Snooker Championship at Korat (Thailand) on Tuesday.

Debutant Imran Shehzad followed in the footstep of Saleh when he smashed his first century break of 107 while inflicting a 4-1 defeat to Burda Robert of Austria, said a message received here.

Mercurial Saleh, a losing finalist of the 2004 world championship in China, showed his class under pressure to register his eighth win in the 11-men group C with a 01-92, 15-73, 64-57, 63-46, 76-49, 63-19, 66-32 success.

Saleh, the 35-year-old from Peshawar, who was in danger of being eliminated from the competition after Irishman Maera with smart potting, has taken vital lead.

Saleh looked totally off-colour in the first two frames as the Irishman went in the lead without any problem. Saleh then pocketed the third frame but Maera took the next to increase the pressure on the Pakistani.

With Joseph Maera just one frame away from victory, Saleh got his act together and, demonstrating skillful potting and tactical positional play, sealed the fate of the match by conjuring-up the next three frames in a row.

Saleh is now placed fourth in the group on frames difference led by Nappadol Sangnil (Thailand) with 10 wins out of 11, Peter Francisco (South Africa), Vincent Muldoon (Ireland) and Saleh are tied 10-8.

Imran Shehzad compiled the break of 107 in the fourth frame in his encouraging 69-32, 58-09, 12-65, 107-0, 65-27.

The highly talented Imran is also placed fourth in the pool with eight wins after 11 league matches. Atthasit Mahitti (Thailand heads the group with 11 wins out of 11.

In the Masters event, Holder Muhammad handed out a 3-0 defeat on Kuwait’s Khaled Alhasaawi 3-0. Yousuf won 56-23, 67-36, 71-63.—APP