Kashif Captures Auckland Crown

Top seed Kashif Shuja captured the Auckland Open title today in New Zealand after beating Australia's Mike Corren in the final of the PSA Tour event at the North Shore Squash Club in Auckland.

The kiwi number one has claimed the maximum PSA world ranking points on offer after surviving a hard-fought four game victory over surprise opponent, third seed Mike Corren.

Shuja won the first two games, but dropped the third before bouncing back to claim the fourth and seal his 11-9, 11-10 (3-1), 5-11, 11-10 (4-2) victory in 54 minutes.

The success marked the Pakistan-born 28-year-old's sixth PSA Tour title, and his fifth on his adopted home soil.

It was a case of second time unlucky for Corren, however. The 33-year-old, who is now based at the North Shore club and won the Australian Nationals title for the first time this year, was also runner-up in the 2006 Auckland Open.

Final:
[1] Kashif Shuja (NZL) bt [3] Mike Corren (AUS) 11-9, 11-10 (3-1), 5-11, 11-10 (4-2) (54m)