Welsh pair Peter Creed and Tesni Evans produced a gritty performance at the World Doubles Squash Champions in Manchester.
They were edged out in a tense and dramatic mixed semi-final, saving match balls to take the match into a deciding game at the National Squash Centre.
It was an outstanding achievement by Creed and Evans, who took their place on the podium it receive their bronze medals at the end of the tournament,
And it could so easily have been a top two finish for the courageous duo.
The English duo of Daryl Selby and Alison Waters saved game ball to take the lead 11-10 and led 8-2 in the second.
But Creed, who plays out of Rhiwbina SRC, and Cardiff-born Evans hit back in style, saving two match balls to win 11-10 and take the semi into a decider.
Selby and Waters swept 10-5 ahead 10/5, but once again the Welsh players clawed their way back.
They saved three more match balls before going down 11-8 and the English pair went into the final after a match which lasted 68 minutes.
“It was a tough battle,” said Selby. “We thought we’d won it in the second at 8-2 ahead, but Peter Creed and Tesni Evans fought back so well.
“They’re gritty and tough competitors with lots of skill and good movement. We just had to try to keep it steady.”
Creed and Evans had beaten Scotland’s Dougie Kempsell and Lisa Aitken, springing the surprise of the tournament.
Kempsell and Aitken won the first game before the Welsh pair hit back to march into the last four.
Mixed doubles top seeds and defending champions, New Zealand’s Paul Coll and Joelle King, veteran Aussie pair David Palmer and Rachael Grinham – who won the 2004 event in Chennai.
Coll and King won 11-8, 11-8.
“We lost a pool match last year and managed to come back then,” said Coll. “We feel comfortable with how we’re playing. Joelle is hitting the ball better and better, and we know what to expect of each other.
“We’re playing well and obviously we’re pleased to be back in the final.”
Women’s doubles
Semi-finals: (1) King/Landers-Murphy (New Zealand) walkover v (3) Grinham/Urquhart (Australia), Urquhart injured; (5) Duncalf/Waters (England) beat (2) Chinappa/Pallikal (India) 6-11, 11-6, 11-8 (49 mins).
Women’s final: (1) King/Landers-Murphy (New Zealand) beat (5) Duncalf/Waters (England) 9-11, 11-1, 11-10 (46mins)
Mixed
Semi-finals: (5) Selby/Waters (England) beat (7) Creed/Evans (Wales) 11-10, 10-11, 11-8 (68mins); (1) Coll/King (New Zealand) (4) beat Palmer/Grinham (Australia) 11-8, 11-8 (29mins)
Mixed final: (1) Coll/King (New Zealand) beat (5) Selby/Waters (England) 11-8, 9-11, 11-6 (47mins)
Men’s
Semi-finals: (1) Clyne/Lobban (Scotland) beat (4) Coll/Grayson (New Zealand) 11-8, 8-11, 11-8 (82mins); (2) Cuskelly/Pilley (Australia) beat (5) Willstrop/James (Eng) 11-3, 11-7 (37mins)
Men’s final: (2) Cuskelly/Pilley (Australia) beat (1) Clyne/Lobban (Scotland) 11-6, 11-3 (34mins).