KARACHI: On a day of upsets, country’s top two cueists — Mohammad Asif Toba and Hamza Akbar — were knocked out as quartet of Abdul Sattar, Imran Shehzad, Mohammad Sajjad and holder Asjad Iqbal were through to the semi-finals in the sixth National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) Ranking Snooker Championship at the bank’s sports complex on Tuesday.

Former Pakistan No 1 Imran fought back twice after going into arrears to win the ninth and decisive frame and turn the tables on Toba 5-4.

Low-profile Aakash Rafique’s 4-3 upset victory over Toba on the last day of league, was an indicator that the latter was not in his true elements that he had displayed in this year’s nationals.

Imran, who too suffered 1-4 defeat at the hands of Babar Masih in the group match, displayed his acumen against Toba levelling the score two-all and then three-all after conceding frames before going 4-3 up in the best of nine quarter-final. Toba drew level four-all but never say die Imran clinched the decisive frame to sneak into last four.

Imran won the battle 8-94, 56-62, 71-45, 58-40, 53-65, 67-57, 64-24, 52-59, 64-54.

Imran now faces Sindh’s Abdul Sattar in the Tuesday’s first semi-final after the latter edged past second seed Hamza Akbar 5-3 in the other encounter.

The bearded Sattar, who has recently represented the country in the Asian 6Red event at home, recovered from a shaky start to post 33-73, 71-41, 62-7, 45-52, 69-1, 52-59, 77-6, 75-13 victory over losing finalist of this year’s national’s.

Seasoned Mohammad Sajjad hammered back-to-back century breaks – 117 in the fourth frame and 121 in the fifth frame – while halting Khurram Agha’s run with a 5-2 victory.

Sajjad, who conceded two frames, was home 73-43, 29-70, 69-33, 117-0, 121-0, 39-78, 65-51.

Sajjad took his tally of century breaks in the event to four the previous two breaks being 101 against Sharjeel Mehmood and 105 against Abdul Sattar.

Sajjad will be up against three-time NBP title winner Asjad who cut Mohammad Majid Ali to size 5-3 to inch closer towards retaining the crown.

Asjad won the duel 47-57, 69-26, 84-30, 72-26, 42-54, 83-46, 40-72, 81-25.

Results: Quarter-finals:

Abdul Sattar (Sindh) bt Hamza Akbar (Punjab) 5-3 (33-73, 71-41, 62-7, 45-52, 69-1, 52-59, 77-6, 75-13); Imran Shehzad (Punjab) bt Mohammad Asif Toba (Punjab) 5-4 (8-94, 56-62, 71-45, 58-40, 53-65, 67-57, 64-24, 52-59, 64-54); Mohammad Sajjad (Punjab) bt Khurram Agha (Sindh) 5-2 (73-43, 29-70, 69-33, 117-0, 121-0, 39-78, 65-51); Asjad Iqbal (Punjab) bt Mohammad Majid Ali (Punjab) 5-3 (47-57, 69-26, 84-30, 72-26, 42-54, 83-46, 40-72, 81-25).

Wednesday’s fixtures: Semi-finals (best of 11 frames)

At 10am: Abdul Sattar (Sindh) v Imran Shehzad (Punjab).

At 1pm: Mohammad Sajjad (Punjab) v Asjad Iqbal (Punjab)

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2014