Wales are competing in the World Team Squash Championships for the first time since 2009 and have qualified for the last 16.
Number one Joel Makin put the 13th seeds ahead in the pool D tie against the Czech Republic before second string Peter Creed beat Swiss Martin Svec 11-7, 7-11, 11-5, 12-10 to clinch victory.
Emyr Evans, 21, ensured maximum points with a straight games win over Jakub Solnicky at Modern Squash, Marseille.
“We have to prioritise which world team events we compete in and haven’t played this event for a few years,” said Welsh national coach David Evans, a former British Open champion.
“But with Joel at his highest world ranking plus Peter and Emyr both playing well, we thought we could do well here. We’ve achieved our first objective, which was to make the last 16.
“The 3-0 score of our defeat to Australia yesterday doesn’t do us justice as it was extremely close. I’m pleased with the performance against Czech Republic as it shows that we can back it up.
“Now it’s another tournament and we play France, which is great.”
Ninth seeds Malaysia upset higher-ranked India in their opening qualifying tie and then confirmed their supremacy in pool H by beating Austria 3-0.
But the 23rd seeds gave Malaysia a fright in the opening match when Aqeel Rehman twice led Nafiizwan Adnan, the Malaysian number one.
Adnan raised his game to close out the match 8-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-3, 11-4 before team-mates Eain Yow Ng and Addeen Idrakie also prevailed to cement Malaysia’s top 16 berth.
The win sees Malaysia through to face Scotland, who won 3-0 against Jamaica tanks to wins from Alan Clyne, Greg Lobban and Kevin Moran.
USA progressed by beating South Africa, the 22nd seeds, 3-0. Todd Harrity put the Americans ahead with a 3-0 win over Thoboki Mohohlo and second string Christopher Gordon put the result beyond South Africa’s reach after recovering from a game down to beat 45-year-old Rodney Durbach 9-11, 11-2, 11-7, 11-3.
US team manager Paul Assaiante said: “The 1,2,3 playing order was good for us. Thoboki moves like a cat so we had to keep the pace high.
“We were surprised to see Rodney at two. He has magical hands and is a wonderful competitor, and still plays a great game. But Chris dealt with him well.”
Durbach made his event debut 22 years ago and is the oldest player to competed in the World Team Championships.
“I felt good after the first game – I hit my shots well,” said Durbach.
“I didn’t feel at all out of place. It was probably the length of the rallies that I wasn’t used to – back home they don’t last that long!
“But I’m disappointed – I thought I could have done better.
“The highest we can now get is 17 – so that’s what we’re going for!”
In the final tie of the day, 16th seeds Switzerland beat former champions Pakistan, the 17th seeds, 3-0 and will face defending champions England in a bid to reach the quarter-finals for the first time.
Last 16 draw: [1] Egypt v [15] Finland; [9] Malaysia v [10] Scotland; [3] France v [13] Wales; [5] Hong Kong China v [11] USA; [6] New Zealand v [12] Spain; [4] Australia v [14] Canada; [7] Germany v [8] India; [2] England v [16] Switzerland.
17-24 place draw: [17] Pakistan v [23] Austria; [19] Czech Republic v [22] South Africa; [20] Ireland v [24] Iraq; [18] Argentina v [21] Jamaica
Results on day three of the World Team Squash Championship in Marseille, France
Pool A: [16] SWITZERLAND bt [17] PAKISTAN 3/0
Nicolas Müller bt Farhan Zaman 11-3, 14-12, 9-11, 12-10 (42m)
Dimitri Steinmann bt Amaad Fareed 11-6, 9-11, 11-3, 11-4 (36m)
Reiko Peter bt Asim Khan 11-6, 7-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-8 (50m)
Final positions: 1 Egypt, 2 Switzerland, 3 Pakistan
Pool B: [15] FINLAND bt [18] ARGENTINA 2/1
Olli Tuominen bt Leandro Romiglio 11-9, 6-11, 11-9, 11-9 (47m)
Miko Äijänen lost to Robertino Pezzota 5-11, 6-11, 6-11 (37m)
Jami Äijänen bt Juan Pablo Roude 11-7, 11-7, 11-9 (40m)
Final positions: 1 England, 2 Finland, 3 Argentina
Pool C: [14] CANADA bt [20] IRELAND 3/0
Nick Sachvie bt Arthur Gaskin 11-7, 11-5, 9-11, 11-2 (52m)
Shawn Delierre bt Brian Byrne 11-8, 11-9, 11-4 (39m)
Andrew Schnell bt Sean Conroy 11-4, 11-7, 11-9 (31m)
Final positions: 1 France, 2 Canada, 3 Ireland
Pool D: [13] WALES bt [19] CZECH REPUBLIC 3/0
Joel Makin bt Daniel Mekbib 11-3, 11-9, 11-7 (35m)
Peter Creed bt Martin Svec 11-7, 7-11, 11-5, 12-10 (48m)
Emyr Evans bt Jakub Solnicky 11-9, 11-6, 16-14 (41m)
Final positions: 1 Australia, 2 Wales, 3 Czech Republic
Pool E: [12] SPAIN bt [24] IRAQ 3/0
Borja Golan bt Husham Al-Saadi 11-1, 11-2, 11-9 (27m)
Carlos Cornes bt Mohammed Hasan 11-6, 11-9, 11-2 (24m)
Bernat Jaume bt Hasanain Dakheel 11-2, 7-11, 11-9, 11-7 (41m)
Final positions: 1 Hong Kong China, 2 Spain, 3 Iraq
Pool F: [11] USA bt [22] SOUTH AFRICA 3/0
Todd Harrity bt Thoboki Mohohlo 11-4, 11-5, 11-6 (31m)
Christopher Gordon bt Rodney Durbach 9-11, 11-2, 11-7, 11-3 (46m)
Chris Hanson bt Gary Wheadon 11-9, 11-4, 11-7 (36m)
Final positions: 1 New Zealand, 2 USA, 3 South Africa
Pool G: [10] SCOTLAND bt [21] JAMAICA 3/0
Alan Clyne bt Christopher Binnie 11-7, 11-1, 11-6 (37m)
Greg Lobban bt Lewis Walters 11-9, 14-12, 11-6 (37m)
Kevin Moran bt Bruce Burrowes 11-4, 11-8, 11-5 (22m)
Final positions: 1 Germany, 2 Scotland, 3 Jamaica
Pool H: [9] MALAYSIA bt [23] AUSTRIA 3/0
Nafiizwan Adnan bt Aqeel Rehman 8-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-3, 11-4 (54m)
Eain Yow Ng bt Jakob Dirnberger 11-7, 11-6, 7-11, 11-7 (36m)
Addeen Idrakie bt Lukas Windischberger 11-7, 11-2, 11-7 (25m)
Final positions: 1 Malaysia, 2 India, 3 Austria