M.MULLICK BEATEN In Keen TUSSLE
By a Staff Reporter
A Most interesting match in the Amateur Billiards Championship of India was witnessed at the Great Eastern Hotel on Friday night when Bombay’s Rafiq Dina defeated the qualifying winner, M. Mullick, by 1,335 points to 1,151 in four hours. And so Rafiq moved into the semi – final to meet the holder, Chandra Hirjee.
It was a splendid match of fluctuating fortunes in which both players adopted a mixed type of game, the accent being more on hazard play. The Bombay player, however, was more constituent and just about deserved to win and he must be proved players of the year.
At the same time Mullick must be complimented on his great uphill battle, particularly during the last half hour when he scored break after break to reduce the leeway. Towards the end he was scoring more fluently then he opponent.
The start was slow with the balls running unfavourably for both players. Mullick took the lead early and a break of 48 in his sixth visit gave him a reasonable advantage . Rafiq Dina in the meantime was in the doldrums, his highest break in 11 visits being five.
In his 23rd, 26th and 28th visits, however, Rafiq made breaks of 59, 66, and 55 respectively and took the lead so that at the end of the first hour he had scored 342 points to Mullick’s 248. When the interval came Rafiq Dina led 569 with 35 in play to 518. How consistently Mullick had scored can be gauged from the fact that up to the interval he had no break over 50 to his credit, whereas Rafiq had five.
After the interval the Bombay player went from strength to strength but Mullick was battling all the way and as the game approached the last half hour he knocked up breaks of 71, 55 and 81. With 15 minutes to go the score read 1,347 to 1,066 in favour of Rafiq Dina.
Left On
At this stage Mullick who had just completed a break of 81, failed with a cannon and left the balls nicely positioned at the top of the table for Rafiq to score 50. This Virtually decided the match, for though Mullick fought desperately at the end Rafiq did sufficiently well to maintain his lead, the end coming with Mullick scoring 69.
The following were the night’s best breaks:
Rafiq Dina – 59, 66, 55, 60, 86, 63, 54, 57,57,91,50.
M. Mullick – 71, 55, 81, 69.
Today’s matches
Snooker – T.G. Krishna (Andhra) v .A. k. das (3-30 p.m.) : M.H. M. Mujald (Ceylon) v S. K. Mitter (5-30p.m) : C .D .Shah (Madras) v Capt T.A. sadler (8 p.m.)
By a Staff Reporter
A Most interesting match in the Amateur Billiards Championship of India was witnessed at the Great Eastern Hotel on Friday night when Bombay’s Rafiq Dina defeated the qualifying winner, M. Mullick, by 1,335 points to 1,151 in four hours. And so Rafiq moved into the semi – final to meet the holder, Chandra Hirjee.
It was a splendid match of fluctuating fortunes in which both players adopted a mixed type of game, the accent being more on hazard play. The Bombay player, however, was more constituent and just about deserved to win and he must be proved players of the year.
At the same time Mullick must be complimented on his great uphill battle, particularly during the last half hour when he scored break after break to reduce the leeway. Towards the end he was scoring more fluently then he opponent.
The start was slow with the balls running unfavourably for both players. Mullick took the lead early and a break of 48 in his sixth visit gave him a reasonable advantage . Rafiq Dina in the meantime was in the doldrums, his highest break in 11 visits being five.
In his 23rd, 26th and 28th visits, however, Rafiq made breaks of 59, 66, and 55 respectively and took the lead so that at the end of the first hour he had scored 342 points to Mullick’s 248. When the interval came Rafiq Dina led 569 with 35 in play to 518. How consistently Mullick had scored can be gauged from the fact that up to the interval he had no break over 50 to his credit, whereas Rafiq had five.
After the interval the Bombay player went from strength to strength but Mullick was battling all the way and as the game approached the last half hour he knocked up breaks of 71, 55 and 81. With 15 minutes to go the score read 1,347 to 1,066 in favour of Rafiq Dina.
Left On
At this stage Mullick who had just completed a break of 81, failed with a cannon and left the balls nicely positioned at the top of the table for Rafiq to score 50. This Virtually decided the match, for though Mullick fought desperately at the end Rafiq did sufficiently well to maintain his lead, the end coming with Mullick scoring 69.
The following were the night’s best breaks:
Rafiq Dina – 59, 66, 55, 60, 86, 63, 54, 57,57,91,50.
M. Mullick – 71, 55, 81, 69.
Today’s matches
Snooker – T.G. Krishna (Andhra) v .A. k. das (3-30 p.m.) : M.H. M. Mujald (Ceylon) v S. K. Mitter (5-30p.m) : C .D .Shah (Madras) v Capt T.A. sadler (8 p.m.)