ISLAMABAD, Dec 7: Shahid Zaman was involved in another giant-killing act on the second day of the Bank Alfalah Pakistan Open bringing down 6th seed Joseph Kneipp of Australia to check into the quarterfinals of the $65,000 championship.

But Shahid will be the country's sole flag-bearer in the last eight stage after Mansoor Zaman fell to top seed David Palmer of Australia 9-11, 8-11, 11-3, 8-11 and Shamsul Islam Khan went down to Englishman Nick Matthew, the No 2 seed 5-11, 5-11, 8-11.

Right from the start, Shahid was too hot to handle as Kneipp found out just too well on the centre court of the Mushaf Squash Complex, the Pakistani storming to a 11-9, 11-7, 11-3 victory in just over 30 minutes to set a up a clash with Matthew.

On the opening day, the stocky Shahid had shown ninth seeded Adrian Grant the door, and his exploits on Tuesday were even more creditable for he was up against a player seeded better than the Englishman.

While the tournament's sixth seed went out, so did No. 4 Karim Darwish who was rocked by a fighting Australian, Anthony Ricketts, the 10th seed, who scored a 9-11, 11-6, 11-10, 10-11 (1-2), 11-2 win in about an hour.

Ricketts, who was given a conduct warning for racket abuse in the second game will now play Frenchman Gregory Gaultier, who needed a 25-minute break for injury before edging country fellow Renan Lavigne 11-5, 7-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-8.

The Canadian defending champion, Jonathan Power the No 5 seed was a class act in a 11-7, 11-5, 11-4 stroll against Egypt's Mohammed Abbas. His victory put him in quarterfinal with Palmer.

Wednesday's other quarterfinal will see England's 8th seed James Willstrop, a comfortable 11-7, 11-4, 11-1 winner against Finland's Olli Tuomnen, taking on 3rd seed Amr Shabana of Egypt.

Shabana did not have to exert much as he blew Englishman Mark Chaloner 11-5, 11-7, 11-6 away in less than half an hour. But Shahid's match with Kneipp was the highlight of the day as was the upset of Darwish.

Showing remarkable retrieving skills and fine drop shots, Shahid quickly made it clear what he had in mind - nothing but victory. And he achieved that in style. Although Kneipp lost in straight games, he put up quite a resistance particularly in the first game in which scores were tied four times, the last at 9-9 before Shahid swept ahead to go one up in the match.

In the second game that featured long rallies, Shahid played bravely and intelligently and made sure not to let his one-game lead slip away. With determination writ large on his face, he did exactly that. The third game was a romp for Shahid as Kneipp made mistakes and hit the tin quite a few times.

While Shahid stood tall his compatriot Shams was battered by Matthew, who was in no mood to do the hosts any favours and needed only 33 minutes for what was a straightforward victory.

In contrast, Mansoor fought hard against Palmer and led in the first two games but threw away that advantage to lose both of them. However, he was just too good in the third which he won before bowing out in the fourth.

RESULTS (SECOND ROUND): David Palmer (Aus) bt Mansoor Zaman (Pak) 11-9, 11-8, 3-11, 11-8, Jonathan Power (Can) bt Mohammed Abbas (Egy) 11-7, 11-5, 11-4, Anthony Ricketts (Aus) bt Karim Darwish (Egy) 9-11, 11-6, 11-10, 10-11 (1-2), 11-2, Gregory Gaultier (Fra) bt Renan Lavigne (Fra) 11-5, 7-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-8, James Willstrop (Eng) bt Olli Tuomnen (Fin) 11-7, 11-4, 11-1, Amr Shabana (Egy) bt Mark Chaloner (Eng) 11-5, 11-7, 11-6, Shahid Zaman (Pak) bt Joseph Kneipp (Aus) 11-9, 11-7, 11-3, Nick Mathew (Eng) bt Shamsul Islam Khan (Pak) 11-5, 11-5, 11-8.