Advani falters, Bengaluru Buddies triumph

Ahmedabad: Bengaluru Buddies won their second straight game with 3-2 win over Pankaj Advani-led Chennai Strikers in the Indian Cue Masters League at Rajpath Club here on Monday. Advani ran out of luck with black ball twice to lose his Icon Players snooker match against experienced Welsh player Darren Morgan 1-2 derailing Chennai’s chances.

In the decisive snooker singles, Laxman Rawat came good for the second time in the league to outclass Dharminder Lilly 42-0. It was Chennai franchises’ second loss in three games.

In the mixed doubles 6-Red ball snooker, Advani and Vidya Pillai defeated Morgan and Anastasia Nechaeva 2-1 (9-17, 10-8, 22-5). In the first frame, the teams were tied at 9-9 when Anastasia put red ball in the last 30 seconds and Morgan sent black in to win first frame 17-9. In the second frame, Strikers’ trailed 5-8 but a break of five towards end was decisive to win second frame 10-8 and equal match result 1-1. In the deciding frame, it was easy going for Chennai Strikers with Vidya producing a couple of good shots to seal it with 22-5 win. This evened up things after Bengaluru Buddies’ Sundeep Gulati beat Dharminder Lilly 2-0 at the other table in 9-Ball pool singles.

In the pool doubles, Vidya combined with Pandurangaiah to beat Gulati and Anastasia 2-0 as Chennai Strikers lead 2-1.

Morgan kept Bengaluru Buddies in the tie with thrilling 2-1 win. Advani won first frame easily 41-10.

Morgan surged ahead in second frame and weathered a remarkable comeback attempt from Advani before winning the second frame 29-23. He then wrapped up the tie 21-18 to clinch the match.