Pakistan survive Ireland to make it into IBSF Team World Snooker finals

Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Sajjad beat Michael Judge and Robert Murphy of Ireland-2 to march ahead.

CARLOW: A nerve-racking game of snooker on Saturday finally ended with the Pakistani snooker team prevailing against a seasoned Ireland team in the semi-final to book a spot in the final of the team World Amateur Snooker Championship in Carlow, Ireland.

Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Sajjad went into the match on the back of a good run in the championships, having beaten Poland and India to reach the semi-final.

The Irish duo of Michael Judge and Robert Murphy were always going to be a stern test for Pakistan, after the team had prevailed against the UAE side in the quarter finals.

On Saturday, Pakistan started slowly, with Asif falling behind to Judge in the first frame 35-69. Sajjad though brought Pakistan back into match as he battled to a 67-53 victory against Murphy.

In the third frame, Asif and Sajjad fought a combined battle with Judge and Murphy but were comprehensively beaten 39-69.

With Pakistan down by 2-1 at this stage, Asif gained a crucial victory with a 79-46 margin.

This set up a nervous final game in the match. Sajjad was to take on Judge. Sajjad had managed to get into a commanding position at 51-25, but he then allowed Judge back in who erased the lead and squared the match 51-51. But both players made mistakes as each in turn tried to force a result. And just when Judge seemed to have gotten himself in a position to win the match, he made a foul that allowed Sajjad to capitalise and secure a 67-51 victory to lift Pakistan into the final.

In the other semi-final, Iran's Amir Sarkhosh and Soheil Vahedi beat Wales 1 by 3-2.

Pakistan will now clash with Iran for a team title on Sunday.