KARACHI, Aug 19: Pakistan number one Shahid Zaman became the biggest casualty of the English Open on Thursday when he fell to England’s qualifier Peter Barker in a four-game opening round match in Sheffield England.

According to details made available on Friday, Essex’s Barker became the only qualifier to claim a place in the last eight after pulling off a significant first round upset over the seventh seeded Shahid, world number 14.

The world No 29 from Upminster, who arrived in Sheffield fresh from two PSA Tour title successes in South America, overcame the Pakistani national champion 11-8, 11-8, 4-11, 11-7 in 46 minutes.

Barker spent his entire junior squash career in the shadow of James Willstrop, and will meet the 22-year-old Yorkshireman in the quarterfinals.

Fourth seed Willstrop, who beat the 21-year-old left-hander in the finals of the British, European and World Junior Championships, coasted to an 11-6, 11-10, 11-9 victory over Ben Garner, a wildcard from Surrey, to reach the quarter-finals for the second successive year.

England players overwhelmed their opposition in first round matches with home victories in all four matches guaranteeing domestic interest in Sunday’s final.

Perhaps the most notable of the successes was achieved by local hero Nick Matthew, the Sheffield-based fifth seed who ended the 37-match unbeaten run of Australian comeback king Stewart Boswell.

Thursday’s first round results:

Lee Beachill (ENG) bt Bradley Ball (ENG) 11-3, 11-7, 11-2 (34m); Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [Q] Stewart Boswell (AUS) 9-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-6 (70m); James Willstrop (ENG) bt Ben Garner (ENG) 11-6, 11-10 (3-1), 11-9 (34m); Peter Barker (ENG) bt Shahid Zaman (PAK) 11-8, 11-8, 4-11, 11-7 (46m).—PPI