England will face Canada in the quarter-finals of the women’s team event at the Commonwealth Games, while the men’s next opponents will be Northern Ireland.
Having won their group yesterday, England women will next play at 12.30am UK time on Saturday, with the winners to meet the victors of the between India and Malaysia in the last four.
England men will also play tomorrow, at 9.30am UK time against Northern Ireland, who beat Mauritius 3-0 in the preliminary round today.
In the women’s event, the two quarter-finals in the top half of the draw were played this morning, with Wales, who made it through as group runners-up, going down 3-1 against hosts Australia.
Charlotte Carey put the Welsh team in front by defeating Jian Fang Lay 3-1 (4-11, 11-6, 11-8, 15-13) but the hosts were level when Melissa Tapper overcame Chloe Thomas in three straight (8, 4, 3).
The doubles was more one-sided as Thomas and Anna Hursey were beaten 3-0 (11-8, 11-2, 11-2) by Lay & Miao Miao, before Miao won an extraordinary match against Carey to seal a semi-final place for Australia, coming from 10-2 down in the third game on her way to winning 3-2 (5-11, 11-4, 13-11, 8-11, 11-3).
In the other quarter-final today, top seeds Singapore defeated Guyana 3-0.
Wales had made it through with a 3-1 victory over Sri Lanka in their second group match. Carey won the first match with a straightforward 3-0 (4, 6, 7) scoreline against Erandi Warusawithana, before Hursey made her singles debut at the event. Despite a fine comeback from 2-0 down, the 11-year-old was defeated 3-2 (11-9, 11-7, 7-11, 10-12, 11-7) by Ishara Manikku Badu.
However, Hursey & Thomas restored the Welsh advantage by defeating Manikku Badu & Hansani Kapugeekiyana 3-0 (11-8, 11-9, 11-6) and Carey sealed overall victory in fine style against Kapugeekiyana by a 3-0 (11-4, 11-5, 11-8) margin.
In the men’s events, England will next face Northern Ireland, who beat Mauritius 3-0 in the preliminary round today. Ashley Robinson withstood a fightback by Brian Chan Yook Fo to win the first match 3-2 (11-6, 11-8, 5-11, 8-11, 5-11) and Paul McCreery then won his singles against a spirited Rhikesh Taucoory 3-1 (11-8, 12-10, 15-17, 11-8). McCreery & Owen Cathcart completed victory in the doubles, 3-0 (8, 8, 8) aganst Taucoory & Akhilen Yogarajah.
Scotland were eliminated 3-1 by Malaysia. Gavin Rumgay was edged out 3-2 (12-10, 7-11, 8-11, 11-8, 12-10) by Chee Feng Leong and it was 2-0 when Colin Dalgleish lost 3-0 (11-9, 11-4, 11-5) to Muhammad Ashraf Haiq. Dalgleish & Craig Howieson reduced the arrears with a 3-0 (7, 8, 10) win over Leong & Javen Choong in the doubles, but then Haiq beat Dalgleish 3-0 (11-6, 15-13, 11-8) as Malaysia went through to face top seeds India in the quarters.
Northern Ireland and Scotland both qualified for the knockout rounds with victories in their second group matches.
The Irish had to come from behind against Trinidad & Tobago as Dexter St Louis beat Robinson in the first match by a 3-1 (5-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-6) margin.
McCreery levelled with a routine 3, 2, 6 victory over Yuvraaj Dookram and the doubles went to Cathcart & McCreery 9, 9, 5 against Aaron Wilson & Dookram. Cathcart’s impressive 3-0 (11-8, 11-9, 11-7) win over St Louis took his team through.
It was far easier for Scotland against Kiribati, with Rumgay blitzing Nooa Takooa for the loss of only two points (1, 1, 0) and Dalgleish then overcoming Allie Johnny 6, 3, 5. The doubles saw Dalgleish team up with Howieson to defeat Takooa & Tauramoa Miita 3-0 (11-7, 11-4, 11-4).