First Semi Final - England A v Chinese Taipei - part 2
Frame 11: Ko scratches. Layout ok, but need a 5-7 combo. Karl leaves Darren long on the combo and the 7 doesn't quite fall. Chang needs to billiard off the 5 to the 7 and find shape on the 5. He does it very well. A tester fine cut on the 6 for Chang. He makes it and goes 2 end rails perfectly. 7-4
Frame 12: Chang breaks, nearly dry, but last 2 balls rolling fall in. England team pulling faces and shaking their heads, neither happy with their form or the run of balls. Ko plays safe but leaves the 1 clear to hit, but it's on the head rail 9 feet away. Darren with a lovely safe, but make have left a shot. Looks like Chang will swerve or jump. He jumps, almost scratches and leaves the 1 on. A very hard 2 to 3 for Darren to negotiate now. He powers it in, goes 2 rails and gets perfect. They should stop the rot here. Bad shape on the 6 needs a 3 rail shot from Karl, he does it pretty well. The 7 is a tester for Darren. He's up and down a few times, but gets it in. Still a tricky 9 to the side. Karl lifts on the shot, misses it badly, and I'd say that's about it for England if Taiwan makes the bank.
Ko misses the bank by a mile and England stay alive, trailing 5-7.
Tension starting to enter the arena! This could be fun.
Frame 13: Darren makes a wing ball but gets hooked on the 1. They push. Chang will jump. He hits the intervening 8 ball, trying to jump as soft as possible to keep the CB on the table. England would usually cruise through this layout, but they've been getting out of line a bit the last few attempts. Darren has to make a delicate 4 to 5 after Karl left him short. A 6 that wobbles in should get them home. 7-6 Taiwan lead.
Frame 14: Karl break, 1 laps the side pocket but doesn't fall. Dry. Ko has an easy 1 ball, shape for 2 not ideal. 2 to 3 is challenging. Chang plays it for a carom onto the 7. They manage it well and should clear from here. Taiwan 8-6
Frame 15: Ko breaks dry. 1 is on, but not easy, they use their extension. Darren misses thick and leaves a shot on the 1. Safety needed from the 2. Ko leaves an edge visible. Karl does the same back, but maybe this 2 can be potted. Chang makes it, caroms the 7 and holds for the 3 ball. Ko almost misses a simple 3, but it wobbles in. 6 may test them. Ko leaves the CB short. Chang is the iceman out there and makes a big cut into the side and they clear and win the match 9-6.
England didn't handle the pressure well toward the end, and blew a few chances, but Taiwan had by far the best of the roll of the balls today imho. They were missing quite a few shots early on, but the rolls were keeping them in it, until they got comfortable at the table.
Colin