England moved smoothly into the men’s team semi-finals at the Commonwealth Games with a victory over Cyprus. Cyprus had earned their place in the last eight as runners-up in the group won by Nigeria having beaten Ghana and South Africa.
Afterwards PITCHFORD said: “I knew Marios YIANGOU could play. I knew I had to be ready and I was I played one of the best matches I’ve played for a long time. I was focused I was playing well and I didn’t give him a chance as I knew he would take it if I did.
England will face Singapore who was 3-0 winners over Canada.
“It is probably another step up so we need to be ready again. They are all good players and have a strong doubles pair. We need to get the first point on the board and put them under pressure. They are a bit more inexperienced than us so if we can capitalise on that and put them under pressure from the start we stand a good chance.”
In Women’s semi final Wales lost to Malaysia 2:3.
England – Cyprus 3-0
Tom JARVIS Paul DRINKHALL – Christos SAVVA Sharpel ELIA 3-0 (12-10 11-3 11-2)
Liam PITCHFORD – Marios YIANGOU 3-0 (11-5 11-3 11-6)
Paul DRINKHALL – Sharpel ELIA 3-0 (11-6 11-8 11-4)
Wales – Malaysia 2-3
Chloe Anna THOMAS WU ZHANG Anna HURSEY – Ying HO Karen LYNEMAS 0:3 (7-11 5-11 5-11)
Charlotte CAREY – Li Sian Alice CHANG 3-2 (7-11 11-8 11-7 7-11 11-7)
Anna HURSEY – Karen LYNEMAS 3-1 (11-6 m 11-9 11-13 11-9)
Chloe Anna THOMAS WU ZHANG – Li Sian Alice CHANG 0-3 (3-11 11-13 5-11)
Charlotte CAREY – Ying HO 2-3 (11-7 9-11 12-10 7-11 8-11)
