29/09/2009 - A first up win for New Zealand in pool play at the World Men's Team Squash Championships in Denmark. |
The 10th seeded kiwis have survived a tougher than expected battle against unseeded Spain, bouncing back from a match down to edge home 2-1.
New Zealand number one Kashif Shuja was first on court and looked on course for a comfortable victory over David Vidal after taking the first two games 11-0 11-7. But Vidal refused to lie down, and claimed the next three games to register a surprise win over the world number 45.
That left kiwi number three Martin Knight having to win to keep the tie alive, and he duly delivered with a clinical 11-2, 11-4, 11-4 win over Eduardo Gonzalez.
However, New Zealand was still not out of the woods, with Campbell Grayson down 2-1 against Spanish number two Alejandro Garbi, before fighting back to win 11-3 in the fifth.
New Zealand now has a day off before facing 7th seeded Canada in their final pool match on Wednesday morning (NZT)
Result
New Zealand 2 def Spain 1
1. Kashif Shuja lost to David Vidal 11-0, 11-7, 8-11, 8-11, 6-11 (53 mins) 3. Martin Knight def Eduardo Gonzalez 11-2, 11-4, 11-4 (37 mins) 2. Campbell Grayson def Alejandro Garbi 9-11, 11-4, 6-11, 11-7, 11-3 (60 mins)
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