England and Scotland win decisive rubbers

England, the third seeds, and fifth-seeded Scotland scrambled to 2-1 wins in yesterday's second qualifying round of the Men's World Team Championship here, with the third strings, Lee Beachill and Neil Frankland, respectively clinching the decisive rubbers.

Chris Walker, the former world No 4 who reached this year's British Open final on the eve of his 34th birthday, is enjoying his sixth successive World Championship appearance for England – in two of which – 1995 and 1997 – he captained the squad to the title.

Playing the first rubber against the six-times champions, Pakistan, the 10th seeds, Walker lost 9-6, 9-3, 9-4 to the in-form former national junior champion Shahid Zaman. The squad's No 1, Mark Chaloner, then fought back from a game down to beat Shahid's cousin, Mansoor Zaman, 7-9, 9-5, 9-1, 9-7 to level the match. Beachill, the squad's No 4 and British national champion, wrapped up the victory for England with a 9-6, 9-3, 4-9, 9-6 win over Ajaz Azmat.

John White, the world No 7, lost his second successive match for Scotland in the tie against the eighth seeds, Malaysia, after his team-mate Martin Heath had put Scotland in front with a 1-9, 9-5, 9-0, 9-7 victory over Kenneth Low. The Malaysian No 1, Ong Beng Hee, was in fine form as he punished White 9-0, 9-10, 9-3, 10-8 But Frankland was ready for the challenge and the Scottish No 3 defeated Moh'd Azlan Iskandar 9-6, 8-10, 9-5, 9-8 to claim Scotland's first pool win.