India downs Australia

04-Feb-2012 -

Australia have gone down to India in their final pool match at the Under 21 Squash World Cup in Chennai on Friday.

Rod Eyles reports:

As the Australian Team walked into the Express Mall Venue with the four sided glass court erected in the central part of Chennai's  main shopping centre you could certainly feel the buzz and pre-match excitement from the capacity crowd.

The Australians knew this could work in their favour as all the pressure was going to be on the local favourites India.
Certailnly this was going to be Jamie McErvale’s biggest day of his young squash career. However his opponent had different ideas from the onset.
Ravi Dixit certainly got off to a commanding start feathering some beautiful touch shots around the front area of the glass court and comfortably winning the first two games before McErvale started to make his move in the third.
Down 8-10 McErvale refused to give in, giving the Australian team a look at a comeback as the Indian started to look at easier ways to find the finish line.
Jamie hit a series of crisp forehand straight volleys to win the well deserved game of 12-10.
As the fourth got on the way McErvale gained in confidence and the Indian started to look a bit tentative with his short game now coming unstuck.
An exchange of tough rallies followed by some brilliant play from both players saw the game fall to the very relieved Dixit in a match that lasted 58 mins.

In the second match between Chennai's own and recent Tournament of Champions finalist world number 14 Dapika Pallikal was too strong for a very gutsy Sarah Cardwell. The in form Pallikal had just too much fire power for Cardwell today in three games lasting 42 minutes.

In the now final string yesterday's hero Walter Koteka was out classed by a very exciting new young player on tour by the name of Ramit Tandon.

Tomorrow the Australians start the playoff matches over the weekend first against Malaysia to reach a  best possible place of coming fifth for the tournament now.

Jamie McErvale lost to Ravie Dixit 11-4,11-3,10-12,11-9  58mins
Sarah Cardwell lost to Dapika Pallikal 11-6,11-4,11-5  42mins
Walter Koteka lost to Ramit Tanon 11-1,11-2,11-4 17mins