Jones Capitalises On English Open Bonus

Welshman Gavin Jones took full advantage of the last-minute opportunity of a place in the first qualifying round of the Mamut English Open , hosted by Sheffield City Council, by beating the higher-ranked South African Rodney Durbach to get through to today's qualifying finals in Sheffield.

The withdrawal of Malaysia's Ong Beng Hee, and the subsequent elevation of Welsh No1 Alex Gough into the main draw, provided the unexpected vacancy in the qualifying event. Jones, 24, from Maesteg, fought back from a game down to overcome Durbach 11-15 15-11 15-9 15-13. There was a 15-minute 'blood stoppage' delay in the final game when the South African was struck by the Welshman's racket.

Jones now faces England's Joey Barrington, a straight games victor over Czech Jan Koukal, for a place in the main draw.

Pakistan's Shahid Zaman squandered a 2/0 lead, and failed to convert two match-balls in the fourth game, before going down 10-15 5-15 15-12 17-16 15-4 to Mike Corren. The Australian now takes on England's Scott Handley, who was a game up in his first qualifying round when opponent Jonathan Kemp retired with a sore knee.

Shahid's cousin Farrukh Zaman fared better against Phillip Barker, beating the Englishman 11-15 15-12 15-5 15-5 - whilst Phillip's younger brother Peter Barker cruised into the qualifying finals when Pakistan's Majid Khan retired with an ankle injury with the score standing at 15-7 15-6 10-2 in the Upminster 20-year-old's favour.

Barker now faces Italy's Davide Bianchetti, who survived a 100-minute battle against England's Peter Genever, and Farrukh Zaman meets England's former world No3 Simon Parke, who beat fellow Englishman Alex Stait in four games.