Cassie On Late Call In Bahrain

England's Cassie Jackman led all eight seeded players to victory on the second day of first round action in the Bahrain WISPA Classic, but the world No2 dropped a game against unseeded Australian Melissa Martin before coming through powerfully in four games in the last match of the night at the Al A' Ali Mall in Bahrain.

Competing on the WISPA World Tour for the first time since sustaining an Achilles injury which caused her withdrawal from the Brunei International in July, Jackman is keen to re-claim the world No1 crown which she has surrendered to Australia's Rachael Grinham.

After a powerful start - with the time fast approaching midnight - the 31-year-old from Norfolk found herself taken short more often in the second game by Melissa Martin, the wife of the former Australian international Brett Martin, who was finding increasing success with this ploy. Jackman quickly re-engaged top gear and took the last two games in just 12 minutes, without conceding a single further point, to register a 9-2 5-9 9-0 9-0 victory.

"I am not used to playing quite so late but I am through and that's all that matters," said the former world champion afterwards.

Jackman now faces England team-mate Jenny Duncalf for a place in the quarter-finals. The 21-year-old world No12 from Harrogate brushed aside Australia's Dianne Desira 9-5 9-2 9-5 in 38 minutes.

English players featured in five of the eight encounters, with four prevailing. Eighth seed Rebecca Macree started the English roll with a hard-fought victory over countrywoman Alison Waters. It started well for the younger player as tight, sensible, squash took her into a one game lead, but experience began to tell as Macree became more forceful in rallies and forged a 7-9 9-5 9-7 9-2 win in 67 minutes.

Macree goes on to meet New Zealander Shelley Kitchen, who beat another English player Dominique Lloyd-Walter. The 13th seed has been firing well recently and, after a relatively slow start, romped home 9-6 9-1 9-3 in 40 minutes.

1st round:
[13] Shelley Kitchen (NZL) bt Dominique Lloyd-Walter (ENG) 9-6, 9-1, 9-3 (40m)
[8] Rebecca Macree (ENG) bt Alison Waters (ENG) 7-9, 9-5, 9-7, 9-2 (67m)
[12] Vicky Botwright (ENG) bt Carla Khan (PAK) 9-1, 9-6, 9-6 (31m)
[4] Natalie Grinham (AUS) bt Laura-Jane Lengthorn (ENG) 9-4, 9-4, 9-4 (38m)
[14] Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) bt Eman El Amir (EGY) 9-0, 9-5, 4-9, 10-8 (56m)
[7] Nicol David (MAS) bt Heidi Mather (AUS) 9-1, 9-2, 9-3 (28m)
[11] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt Dianne Desira (AUS) 9-5, 9-2, 9-5 (38m)
[2] Cassie Jackman (ENG) bt Melissa Martin (AUS) 9-2, 5-9, 9-0, 9-0 (36m)