CHENNAI, India: Australia downed Egypt 2-1 here Tuesday to book their place in the final of the 21st World men’s Team squash Championship.
The eight-time champions will face England in the final. England beat European rivals France 2-1 in Tuesday’s semi-final, set up by Peter Barker’s opening victory over Renan Lavigne (11-6, 11-6, 11-6).
Australia were lifted to victory by their world number four David Palmer producing his best game to put an end to the 21-week without loss run of world number one Amr Shabana of Egypt.
Palmer’s determined and aggressive 3-1 win leveled the score at 1-1 after Australia’s Cameroon Pilley (world ranked 23) had lost to 14th ranked Mohammed Abbas 1-3.
Faced with an exit, Egypt’s 8th seeded Karim Darwish failed to shoulder the responsibility and pressure in succumbing to 15th seeded Stewart Boswell, also at 1-3.
With this win, the Australians are making their 11th entry to the finals after having won the title eight times, including four occasions in a row from 1967 to 1973.
The Aussies have last won the title in 2003 defeating France in Vienna, Austria. In 1981 and 1993, Australia lost to Pakistan in the title clashes.
After his key win over Shabana Palmer said he’d been “emotionally charged up for the game, adding, “This is a great victory for me since I have lost all my four recent matches this season to him.
“I think he was visibly tired having won four or five tournaments at a stretch this season.
“If I were his coach, I would not have played Shabana in this tournament since Egypt has more rated players to vie for honors in team championships. “Besides this, Shabana played matches against lowly teams too in this championship when he need not have played in order to reserve his energy. But Egypt’s top player disagreed, telling AFP, “I need to play for Egypt but I am unhappy that my country lost today.
“I was tired all right but I must credit that Palmer played better, particularly when chips were down. – AFP
