Barker packs off India’s Ghosal
England’s Peter Barker scuppered Indian hopes by overcoming a spirited Saurav Ghosal 11-5, 11-8, 6-11, 11-5 in the pre-quarterfinals of the Punj Lloyd PSA Masters squash tournament at the Siri Fort Sports Complex here on Thursday.
Barker put up a powerful performance, and never allowed Saurabh to play his game. The Indian tried to cut the Englishman’s pace with his drops and angles but couldn’t prevent himself from sliding to a two-game deficit. He, however, clawed his way back in the third, opening a 4-1 lead before sealing the game with a well-timed drop.
Stung, the left-handed Englishman roared back in the fourth game, racing away to a 6-0 lead before closing the match that lasted 52 minutes.
With Ghosal’s loss, Indian challenge is over in the event. Ghosal said this is the best Barker has played against him.“He played really well. I did everything to break him down. He was really, really solid. I was good in patches, but he counter-attacked very well underpressure. I hit the purple patch in the third game, but you need to that for five game in a row but I couldn’t do it,” said Ghosal, who lost to Barker in the Commonwealth Games as well.
“I tried to do everything, but nothig worked. He was brilliant today. I am very disappointed,” Ghosal added.
Meanwhile, another Englishman, third-seed James Willstrop of England outplayed Alister Walker of Botswana 12-10, 11-4, 11-5 in 43 minutes to enter the quarterfinals. He now plays countryman Daryl Selby who dismissed Simon Rosner of Germany 11-7, 11-6, 8-11, 11-5 in 68 minutes.
“It is good to play someone from your own country. We both know each other’s game well. He is a tough player but I think I have won all my matches against him. It should be a good match,” Willstrop said. In the third match of the day, top seed Ramy Ashour of Egypt beat 12th seed Cameron Pilley of Australia 11-5, 12-14, 11-2, 11-4 in 42 minutes.
Results: Daryl Selby (ENG) bt Simon Rosner (GER) 11-7, 11-6, 8-11, 11-5, James Willstrop (ENG) bt Alister Walker (BOT) 12-10, 11-4, 11-5, Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 11-5, 12-14, 11-2, 11-4, Peter Barker (ENG) bt Saurav Ghosal (IND) 11-5, 11-8,6-11, 11-5.
