Ali Sher, Feroze Ali in joint lead

Defending champion Vijay Kumar, with a day’s score of two-under 70, was placed in the fourth spot at two-under 214, while Islam and Rafiq Ali each carded three-under 69 to be placed at joint sixth at one-under 215.

Overnight second-placed Raju Ali slipped to eighth position after carding a six-over 78 in the third round.

Ali Sher could not have asked for a better start to the day as a driver, three-wood combination saw him sink an eagle on the par-5 first hole. Birdies on the 11th, 14th and 17th, interspersed by a bogey on the 15th played a major role in his tying at the top spot with Feroz.

Feroz Ali had a start similar to that of Ali Sher as a club combination identical to that used by the latter, saw him eagle the first hole. On the very next hole, the overnight leader carded a double-bogey.