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KARACHI Country's top cueist Mohammad Sajjad survived a scare of elimination after he overcame fighting Vishan Gir 4-2 in the last do-or-die league match of the National Ranking Snooker Cup at Karachi Gymkhana on Friday.
Three players were in fray for the top two slots from group 'A' after the completion of sixth round matches on Thursday with one defeat apiece.
Sindh's Sohail Shehzad, the 12th seed, rounded-off his engagements when he disposed off Punjab's Imran Shehzad 4-0 to emerge group champion leaving Sajjad and Vishan to decide the second spot.
Sajjad, who played like a novice in his 0-4 loss, first of the event, to Sohail Shehzad the other day, was in hot waters as he trailed 1-2 to Vishan. However, he recovered to post 56-55, 36-48, 20-59, 80-38, 88-25, 70-37 victory to remain in contention for top honours.
He is drawn to meet Mohammad Asif in the quarter-finals on Saturday. The latter had dethroned him in the 34th National Snooker Championship.
Fourth seed Sharjeel Mahmood and sixth seed Inam-ur-Rehman, both from NWFP, and seventh seed Naveen Pervani (Sindh) failed to go beyond the league. Those who progressed at their expense were Mohammad Asif Toba, Saqib Butt and Sultan Mohammad.
Besides Sajjad and Sohail Shehzad, the three other seeded players who advanced into the last eight include second seed Raees Khan, third seed Mohammad Asif and fifth seed Khurram Agha.
