Squash: England in world team final

England beat Australia 3-0 yesterday to reach the final of the World Open team championship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Chris Walker, ranked No 10 in the world, gave the top seeds, who won the title in 1995, a winning start with a 10-8, 2-9, 9-1, 9-5 victory over Craig Roland.

Simon Parke then beat the newly crowned World Open singles champion, Rodney Eyles, 9-3, 9-3, 9-6 in 40 minutes to put England into the final. Del Harris completed a clean sweep, beating Brett Martin 9-2, 9-2 in a match reduced to the best-of-three games.

"It was a great win," the England coach, David Pearson, said. "In the final, we have a 50-50 chance."

Graham Ryding won his deciding semi-final match to give Canada a final appointment against England today. Ryding dropped the first game, but rallied to overwhelm Omar El Borolossy 4-9, 9-1, 9-2, 9-0 and give the fourth seeds, Canada, a 2-1 victory over the talented third seeds, Egypt.

Canada, who had never previously reached the final, began inauspiciously when Gary Waite lost to Amir Wagih 9-3, 9-6, 9-6.

But Jonathon Power beat Ahmad Barada 9-5, 9-4, 9-5 to level the match before the 22-year-old Ryding, the world No 32, clinched victory.