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Welsh pair Tesni Evans and Deon Saffery have blown their medal hopes in the Commonwealth Games squash women’s doubles on the Gold Coast.
It was one of the most dramatic squash matches ever seen in the Commonwealth Games.
The number six seeds had Australians Rachel Grinham and Dona Urquhart down and almost out when they led 11-9, 9-1 in the best-of-three quarter-final at Oxenford Studios in Gold Coast, Australia.
But, with the partisan crowd behind them, number four seeds Grinham and Urquhart stuck to the task and reduced the deficit point by point before drawing level after a sudden death 10-all tie-break.
With the stuffing knocked out of the Welsh, the Aussie pair motored on to take the third to win 9-11, 11-10, 11-3 – much to the overjoyed delight of the crowd.
When asked if they had ever experienced a comeback like that, Urquhart was said: “I know I haven’t!
“At 9-1 down the spectators were really quiet and with every point we got back they got louder and louder.
“Wales played amazingly. In the first game I thought we were playing well and in control, but they did really well to play winners on some big points. In the second they went up because they were playing really well.”
Grinham said: “I cannot remember being involved in anything like that. It’s a big one and we’ll always remember it.
“It’s so hard in the doubles – you do have to be attacking, but at the same time the points can go away from you so quickly if you make errors.”
Grinham and Urquhart now play number one seeds Joelle King and Amanda Landers-Murphy (New Zealand) in the semi-finals.
King and Landers-Murphy took on English pair Jenny Duncalf and Alison Waters, the second seeds. The Kiwis, paired with the number two seeds after failing to win their qualifying pool group, made it clear that they are fully back on track after dismissing their English rivals 11-10, 11-5.
Women’s semi-final line-up:
[7] Laura Massaro & Sarah-Jane Perry (England) v [3] Joshna Chinappa & Dipika Pallikal Karthik (India)
[1] Joelle King & Amanda Landers-Murphy (New Zealand) v [4] Rachael Grinham & Donna Urquhart (Australia)
India and hosts Australia go head-to-head in a surprise Commonwealth Games mixed doubles final after the top two seeds failed to survive three-game semi-finals.
It was the end of the line for the favourites when Dipika Pallikal Karthik and Saurav Ghosal, the fifth seeds from India, defeated New Zealanders King and Paul Coll, the reigning world champions, 9-11, 11-8, 11-10 in 53 minutes.
The second semi immediately followed on the all-glass showcourt with the capacity crowd eager to cheer on a home pair.
Undoubtedly buoyed by the crowd, Urquhart and Cameron Pilley recovered from the loss of the first game to beat Alison Waters and Daryl Selby, the number two seeds from England, 10-11, 11-7, 11-7 in 55 minutes.
“We’re absolutely stoked,” said New South Welshman Pilley. “We knew we were in for a battle. “The crowd brought us home there. It was so good to hear them cheering their heads off – it doesn’t happen much for the Aussies.”
Men’s semi-final line-up:
[7] Daryl Selby & Adrian Waller (England) v [4] Declan James & James Willstrop (England)
[2] Alan Clyne & Greg Lobban (Scotland) v [5] Zac Alexander & David Palmer (Australia)
Women’s semi-final line-up:
[7] Laura Massaro & Sarah-Jane Perry (England) v [3] Joshna Chinappa & Dipika Pallikal Karthik (India)
[1] Joelle King & Amanda Landers-Murphy (New Zealand) v [4] Rachael Grinham & Donna Urquhart (Australia)
Mixed Final line-up:
[5] Dipika Pallikal Karthik & Saurav Ghosal (India) v [4] Donna Urquhart & Cameron Pilley (Australia)
Bronze medal play-off:
[1] Joelle King & Paul Coll (New Zealand) v [2] Alison Waters & Daryl Selby (England).
