Scots pair close in on historic Games medal

Alan Clyne and Greg Lobban are one win away from claiming Team Scotland’s first Commonwealth Games squash medal in 20 years.

It comes after their victory in the quarter-finals of the Men’s Doubles competition at Gold Coast 2018 inside Oxenford Studios on Friday.

Scotland’s top two males squash players displayed all their fighting spirit to see off the stern challenge of unseeded Malaysian’s Mohammad Syafiq Kamal and Eain Yow NG in three games.

The free-spirited Malaysian duo recovered a deficit to win a tight opening game 11-9 before Clyne and Lobban showed their class to fight back and take the next two, 11-6, 11-5.

The 54 minute contest was by far their toughest assignment to date which should stand them in good stead for what’s in store in Saturday’s semi-final.

Clyne said: “It wasn’t in the plan to lose the first game but they played well.

“They came back strong, playing some good points. In a best-of-three and being one down you can’t afford to make any mistakes. We played some great squash after that.”

Lobban added: “We are really pleased to get the win and I’m proud of the way myself and Alan overcame a difficult and free playing Malaysian pair.

“It was nice to be on the glass court today. It’s completely different to the back courts so great to get that experience today, and I think we’ll improve tomorrow.”

Lying in wait are home favourites David Palmer and Zac Alexander (5) in a re-run of the 2016 World Doubles final which was memorably won by Clyne and Lobban.

The Aussies defeated third seeded Kiwis Paul Coll and Campbell Grayson 11-9, 6-11, 11-7 in 64 minutes to set up Saturday’s semi-final on the show court at 1pm Gold Coast time (4am UK time).

The match will be broadcast on the BBC website and on digital TV via the red button.

The winners are guaranteed a silver medal and a place in Sunday’s final whilst the losers can claim a medal in Sunday’s Bronze Medal match.

Meanwhile, England were assured a finalist as they claimed victory in both quarter-finals in the top half of the draw.

James Willstrop and Declan James came from a game down to beat India’s Vikram Malhotra and Ramit Tandon, 10-11, 11-8, 11-5 while Daryl Selby and Adrian Waller produced a big upset on the side courts as they too came from a game down to beat Australian top seeds and world champions Ryan Cuskelly and Cameron Pilley after a third game sudden death point 9-11, 11-8, 11-10.

Sweaty squash!: BBC video from Alan and Greg’s quarter-final, here.

Photos courtesy of Toni Van der Kreek