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By Leslie Fernando

India, Kazakhstan recorded smashing straight set wins over Maldives and Pakistan in the two matches of the First Asian Central Zone Men's Volleyball Championships on the penultimate day of the five day tournament at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium yesterday. India scored a 3-0 win over Maldives in the first match.

It was plain sailing for Indian team. They had able spikers in R. Rajeev, Tom Joseph, P. S. Srikanth and Mandeep Singh. Its main asset was its strong defence and to spike above the block. India took only 54 minutes to complete the match. They won the first set 25-10 in 15 minutes. But had to fight to win the second set 25-19 in 22 mts. The third set was also went to India 25-9 in 17 minutes.

The clash between the two unbeaten teams, Pakistan and Kazakhstan, in the second match was very interesting and exciting. Kazakstan who earlier beat the Maldives and Sri Lanka showed good court craft to beat Pakistan 3-0, and seem set to become champions. Kazakhstan pulled of the first set 25-15 in 15 minutes. The second game and the third game was a ding dong battle.

Pakistani spikers put up a gallant fight in both sets before going down fighting.

In both the second and third sets Pakistan had the lead. But Kazakhstan spikers especially Andrey Koksharew, Svyatoslav Miklashevich, Anton Yudin and Marat Imangaliyev put up a strong block did the boosting job and with superior strike power won it 25-23, 25-23. For Pakistan Mansoor Kashif, Ahmed Nasser and Khaf Zaheer rose to the occasion with a good control game.

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