At one stage the Pakistan cueists were in the doldrums trailing 3-10, but thanks to Imran Shehzad and Mohammad Yousuf, Pakistan fought back courageously and were just one point behind when the final match was played on the opening day.

India got off to a marvellous start winning both the doubles when Devendra Joshi and Pankaj Advani beat Mohammad Yousuf and Imran Shehzad 74/46 to gain the first point.

Pakistan had a great chance of levelling the scores 1-1, but missed a bonus point when Imran Shehzad with 46 points on the trot potted red into the centre pocket only to see that he also inoffed with the cue ball.

The visitors went 2-0 ahead after Alok Kumar and Manan Chandra got the better of Saleh Mohammad and Naveen Perwani 91/48 and added another bonus point to their score when the reigning Asian champion Alok Kumar displayed his skills by chalking up a break of 70.

With India comfortably ahead 3-0, the singles began where Saleh Mohammad took on Manan Chandra.

Pakistan’s top cueist took the first frame 70/30 and followed it up with 70/27 in the next, which included a break of 59 points thus earning three points.

However, not to be undone, Chandra fought his way back, winning the final frame 76/13 which included a handsome break of 62 to enable him to gain two vital points. At this stage Pakistan was 3 and India 5.

In the second singles, teenager Pankaj Advani, stormed through a 3-0 victory over the Pakistan skipper Naveen Perwani and with fine breaks of 54 and 53 in the first two frames pinched another two bonus points for good measure.

India had now increased their lead and were happily placed at 10-3, with Pankaj earning five valuable points for his side.

In the third singles, Imran took on Alok Kumar and earned two points for Pakistan, winning the opening frame 78/18, which included a break of 52, which earned him tremendous applause from the jampacked audience.

Stung into action, Alok won the next two frames 66/23 and 74/51 to earned two points th4e share the outcome of the match with Shehzad 2-2.

India were now happily perched at 12-5 and Pakistan seemed doomed heading for a heavy defeat on the opening day. But it was not to be.

Former World and Asian champion Mohammad Yousuf rose to the occasion and handed out a 3-0 defeat to Devendra Joshi in a fierce contest.

After Yousuf won the first frame 58/50. Devendra needing a snooker along with the pink and black balls to win the frame, accidentally sunk the pink ball into the pocket.

The next frame was fiercely fought out too. Devendra trailing 61/39, with the four coloured balls on the table, pocketed the brown, blue, pink and black to level the scores 61/61 and force the frame into a black ball tie.

With both players playing for safety first, Yousuf was presented with a not too easy shot.

But throwing caution to the winds, the Pakistan veteran went for the kill and a loud roar arose in the hall when the black ball dropped into the pocket. Yousuf also won the third 57/33 and with three vital points earned, Pakistan was closing the gap 12-8.

The Lucky Seven was the last match of the day to be played for one frame only. But the winner of the Lucky Seven would earn the winner three valuable points, not to mention bonus points if a 50 or 100 was scored.

India nominated their best player Pankaj Advani hoping to increase the lead further with Pakistan clawing its way closer, only four points adrift. After a short discussion amongst the home players, Imran Shezhad was chosen to face the music against Pankaj and much to the joy of the home crowd the gamble paid off.

Trailing 7/27, Pankaj went ahead of Imran 32/27, but the scores were soon tied at 36-36. The sea saw duel continued in pindrop silence with Pankaj and Imran locked 43-43 with three coloured balls left to pot.

After a few nervous exchanges, Imran finally latched on the blue and sinking the pink earned Pakistan three vital points which enabled the teams go into the second day with India leading Pakistan 12-11.

India gained five bonus points through Alok Kumar (2), Pankaj Advani (2) and Manan Chandra (1), compared to Pakistan’s two, Saleh Mohammad (1), Imran Shehzad (1). The second day’s play commences on Friday from 12 noon.

Following were the first day’s results:

Doubles: Devendra Joshi and Pankaj Advani (India) beat Mohammad Yousuf and Imran Shehzad (Pakistan) 1-0: 74/46. Alok Kumar and Manan Chandra (India) beat Saleh Mohammad and Naveen Perwani (Pakistan) 1-0: 91/48. Singles: Saleh Mohammad (Pakistan) beat Manan Chandra (India) 2-1: 70/30, 70/27, 13/76. Pankaj Advani (India) beat Naveen Perwani (Pakistan) 3-0: 94/5, 83/38, 74/30. Alok Kumar (India) beat Imran Shehzad (Pakistan) 2-1: 18/78, 66/23, 74/51. Mohammad Yousuf (Pakistan) beat Devendra Joshi 3-0: 58/50, 68/61, 57/33.

Lucky Seven: Imran Shehzad (Pakistan) beat Pankaj Advani 1-0: 54/43.