Imran Shahzad outplays Muhammad Asif in semi-final – 2011 3rd NBP National Ranking Championship
Former Pakistan Champion Imran Shahzad defeated Pakistan’s number eight, Muhammad Asif, by a frame score of 6-2 in a best-of-eleven semi-final match of the 2011 3rd NBP National Ranking Champion on Tuesday, July 26, 2011.
The 2011 NBP National Ranking Championship is being held at the Amir Bakhsh Billiards Hall of Karachi Club, Karachi, Pakistan.
It was a magnificent display from the Pakistan number two Imran Shahzad, as he produced high quality game to secure a comfortable win over his opponent. However, Muhammad Asif, who previously overpowered Omair Alam of Sindh, crashed out.
Imran Shahzad of Punjab stormed into a 2-0 lead with classy breaks of 70 and 37 in the first and second frames respectively. In the third frame, Asif got a chance but he could only manage a break of 18 and was punished by Shahzad with a couple of quick fires,
17 and 32.
Shahzad, leading 3-0, was again the first one to be among the balls in the following fourth frame but this time he lost control of his emotions missing a simple ball and when the chance presented itself, Asif slotted a marvellous break of 67 to reduce the
deficit at 3-1.
However, Asif’s confidence was again shattered badly in the fifth frame as Shahzad showed no reeling effects and responded with a mind-boggling match high century break of 104 to restore his one frame lead at 4-1.
In the sixth frame, Asif wasted a golden opportunity by missing a simple black off the spot but he was lucky as Shahzad also did the same.
Though Asif then managed in winning the frame with runs of 27 and 17 to make the score line 4-2, he lost the eighth again.
It was a dramatic eighth frame, which turned into a thriller. The first chance in it fell for Asif and he knocked in a modest break of 42 before going out of the position. Imran on the other hand also failed to clinch the frame breaking down on 25. A bout
of safety play was then seen among both players but in the end, it was Imran who appeared on top and sealed the match off the final black ball.
Imran Shahzad will now face Sohail Shahzad of Sindh in the final on Wednesday.
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