Kris shocks MacDonald as Sarnians start well

THE Sarnian trio could hardly have made a better start to their singles campaigns on day one of the world indoor under-25 championships at Hougue du Pommier yesterday. Craig Dorey and the two Bichards, Lianna and Kris, all won in the closing evening session after indifferent results earlier in the day in the mixed singles, something of a serious warm-up event for the individual..

Kris Bichard had added satisfaction in his opening win, having beaten Jersey star Jamie MacDonald on a tie-break after being swept aside 8-3 in the first set.

Bichard bounced back from 3-4 down in the second to win it 6-3 with a three on the last end and then produced two singles to win the rubber in extra-time.

Sister Lianna saw off Ireland's Cliodhna Boyle in straight sets, 10-1, 11-3 and surely won't have an easier match this week.

Dorey defeated the Malaysian Razali, winning the first end 7-2 and then drawing the second 4-4.

Earlier, Dorey had been paired with another Malaysian, Nor Iryani Azmi and made it through to the semi-finals of the mixed.

'I'm absolutely over the moon,' said Dorey.

'To get the semi-finals in anything is pretty cool. I'm going to get my name on the trophy,' he confidently predicted.

The pair comfortably overcame Isle of Man's David Thomas and Alisa Robertson from Scotland in the morning's preliminary round, winning 8-3, 8-7.

In the quarter-finals they kept their good form up as they grabbed another 2-0 victory this time over Kirsty Gardiner from Scotland and English bowler, Jamie Chestney.

Dorey was impressed with the way Azmi bowled and he felt better about his bowling after not being at his best during last weekend's match against the British Isles Select.

'I think she's a Commonwealth Games medallist,' he said.

'She's awesome. I've changed my bowls, I've been practising and I'm feeling a lot happier.

'I played better this afternoon but I played well enough this morning. If I play anywhere close to where I played this afternoon in the singles, then I'll be well pleased.'

In the preliminaries, Kirsty Gardiner and Jamie Chestney knocked out Kris Bichard and his team-mate Kelly Packwood from Wales.

Lianna and her Scottish partner Ian Bone received a bye into the quarter-finals where they lost to David Axon from Wales and England's Lucy Beere in a close game.

The match came down to a tie-break after the first set went Axon and Beere's way 8-3, only for Bichard and Bone to bounce back in the second to win 6-5.

Axon and Beere went onto take the tie-break by two ends to one.

'It was a close game in the end,' said Lianna.

'It was a nice game, but I'm not too disappointed,' she added.