Qureshi downs Prakash in four sets to restore parity

Mumbai, Apr 9 (UNI) Pakistan's number one player Aisam Quereshi today downed India's Prakash Amritraj in four sets to restore parity at 2-2 in the Asia Oceania Group I Davis Cup tie at the Brabourne stadium here today.

Qureshi gave a sterling display of the serve and volley game to down the Indian 6-2, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 and keep alive Pakistan's hopes in this Davis Cup tie. The match will now depend on the last singles tie to be played between Leander Paes and Aqeel Khan.

Amritraj started off pretty confidently holding his first service game without any problem.

Qureshi, however, showed his fine form, slamming three aces in his first game.

The Pakistani number one then broke Prakash with a superb service winner and two unforced errors by Prakash gave Qureshi the early advantage.

Qureshi continued to serve powerfully as Prakash jailed to respond to his opponent's service.

Qureshi again broke Prakash in the fifth game and then wrapped up the first set 6-2.

In the second set the Pakistani again got an early break in the third game at 30 and then continued with his impressive service game not giving any chance to the Indian to break back and took the second set 6-4.

In the third set, however, Qureshi looked tired as the Mumbai heat looked like getting to him and was not fluent in his movements on the court.

Prakash, taking advantage of this, broke the Pakistani in the sixth game to go up 4-2. This break proved enough as Prakash held on to win 6-3.

The momentum had now swung India's way and after a 10 minute interval after the third set Prakash came out all guns firing breaking Qureshi's serve in the very first game.

However, in what turned out to be a topsy turvy game, Qureshi broke back immediately and then again in the fourth game to give Pakistan the advantage.

However, at 3-1 up in the fourth set and trailing 0-15 in the fifth, Qureshi called for a medical time-out for his cramps.

After that Prakash broke back to square things up at 3-3.

Qureshi, however, hung on and managed to break Prakash in the eighth game and then serve out the set to win and set up an exciting decider.

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