Andheri Recreation Club skipper Karan Anand led by example by winning both his frames, which was instrumental in ARC ‘Cheetahs’ recording a stunning 3-1 win against favourites Elphinstone Cricket Club’s team ECC ‘Elfies Hornets’ in a quarter-final match of the Otters Club BSAM Mumbai Z3-Snooker League 2018, at Otters Club Billiards Room. Anand showed good touch as he potted with a fine degree of accuracy and quite consistently in winning the second and fourth 15-red singles frames against Aditya Agrawal, which helped Cheetahs comfortably cross the finish line and advance to the last 8 round
Last year’s runners-up ECC Elfies Hornets got off to a winning start when their doubles pair of experienced and captain Farhad Tengra and Pramod Pol (+21 handicap) outsmarted the ARC pairing of Tarun Kalra and Akshay Vasani (+33) posting a 70-56 win in the 9-red doubles opening frame.
But, thereafter Hornets lost their way and even their key player Agrawal struggled to settle down get into a groove. In contrast, Anand (+25) looked in control and was played steadily against Agrawal (+20) and easily pulled through 81-61 in the second frame, 15-red singles, to level the scores at 1-all.
Later, Cheetahs Om Sawant (+45) powered his way to victory against Vilas Upsham (+35) by a comfy 93-53 margin in the 15-red singles third frame to put the Andheri team in the lead. Anand for the second time defeated Agrawal 103-66 in the fourth frame to see Cheetahs through to the next round and Elfies Hornets exit.
Results – Round 16: ARC ‘Cheetahs; beat ECC ‘Elfies Hornets’ 3-1 (Tarun Kalra/Akshay Vasani (+33) lost Farhad Tengra/Pramod Pol (+21) 56-70, Karan Anand (+25) bt Aditya Agrawal (+20) 81-61, Om Sawant (+45) bt Vilas Upsham (+35) 93-53, Karan Anand (+25) bt Aditya Agrawal (+20) 103-66).