MELBOURNE, Oct 25: France, despite dropping the opening tie, ended Pakistan’s hopes of a record seventh victory with a 2-1 win in the world team squash championship here Thursday.

While Mansoor Zaman and Shamsul Islam Khan lost their matches, Shahid Zaman defeated Frenchman Renan Lavigne 9-3, 9-4, 5-9, 9-7.

Although Mansoor clinched the first game 9-2, lost three games to Thierry Lancou 7-9,

1-9, 9-10.

Gregory Gualtier won the first two games 9-2, 9-5 against Shams, lost the third 5-9, but emerged victorious after registering a 9-4 victory in the fourth.

South Africa continued a great run into the quarterfinals with a battling 2-1 win over the Netherlands.

South Africa now meet Scotland in the quarter-finals.

The Scots, seeded fifth, beat Finland 3-0, with top-string John White battling back from two games down to beat Olli Tuominen 7-9, 6-9, 9-5, 9-3, 9-7 in a thrilling 85-minute encounter.

Canada, with world number two Jonathon Power clinching the win with a tough 9-7, 1-9, 9-7, 2-9, 9-4 result against Derek Ryan, beat Ireland 3-0 and now meet Egypt, the 3-0 conquerors of Denmark.

Wales, the second seeds, continued a disappointing run when they lost to England.

Chris Walker, a 34-year-old veteran, and Lee Beechill, playing in his first world championships, were the England heroes as the two-time former winners snatched a 2-1 victory.

In the crucial opening rubber, Walker, the second string, had a surprisingly easy win over Alex Gough, who is ranked on place higher at number 13 in the world.

This year’s British Open finalist was always in control and won 9-3, 9-0, 9-7 in just 40 minutes.

David Evans, last year’s British Open champion, then hit back to level the tie by beating Mark Chaloner in the top rubber.

Evans dropped the opening game but recovered to post a 4-9, 9-3, 9-6, 9-3 win.

Beechill, the British champion, then sealed a quarterfinal place for the No.3 seeds with a 9-0, 9-2, 9-3 scoreline against Greg Tippings.

England now meet Malaysia, who beat Germany 2-1, while Australia, the top seeds, will face France for a place in the semi-finals.

Australia cruised through 3-0 against Sweden, although Paul Price did drop his side’s first game of the tournament before winning the second-string match 9-2, 9-3, 4-9, 9-3 against Christian Drakenberg.

Thursday’s results: Australia bt Sweden 3-0; France bt Pakistan 2-1; England bt Wales 2-1; Malaysia bt Germany 2-1; Egypt bt Denmark 3-0; Canada bt Ireland 3-0; Scotland bt Finland 3-0; South Africa bt Netherlands 2-1.—AFP