expectations in a marathon match on Tuesday night in the OBM International Graded Squash Tournament.

Nick Kyme, current Caribbean junior champion, produced some devastating kills to finish off a series of long gruelling rallies to take a 9-6, 9-7 lead over current club champion Tommy Sherratt before Sherratt came back to win the match in one hour and 15 minutes.

Sherratt came out strongly in the third game after father, Roger, advised him at the interval. Turning the tables by playing more short winners, Sherratt took the third game 9-7.

Deflated, Kyme seemed to lose momentum and produced a number of unforced errors to help Sherratt to victory as Sherratt won the last two games 9-1, 9-2.

Overseas A grade players arrive on the Island today to play their first round games against local players Sherratt, Kyme and Mel Caines. Sherratt will meet Murray Rusell of Australia at 7.20 with Caines playing against Paul Ansdell of England at 8.00 and Kyme takes on Duleep Adhihetty of England at 8.40.

In the ladies A round robin, Lily Khaw advanced to the final play-off round robin with a deciding match win over Val Protheroe in group two. The scoreline was 3-9, 10-8, 9-2, 9-6. Khaw meets local club champion Janine Keeble in her next match this evening at 8.40.

In Men's B, Jan Brewer defeated John Stout in a repeat of last year's final.

Brewer won in a thrilling five-game encounter after Brewer went ahead 9-7, 9-7. Stout equalised 9-3, 9-5 and the fifth game was a seesaw match to 6-6 when Brewer surged ahead to match ball.

Stout clawed another point back but had a jelly hand attack, putting a couple of drop shots into the tin. This gave Brewer the game 9-7. Brewer now meets his brother Murray, who knocked out Colin Alexander 9-6, 9-2, 9-7 in the semi-final tomorrow at 8.40 p.m.

Another Kyme suffered the two-up, then-lose 3-2 syndrome in another close encounter as Jason Kyme led 10-9, 9-6 8-1 against Stephen Smith before his energy drained from him. Smith clawed back to take the third game 10-9, the fourth 10-8 and finally the clincher 9-6.

Fatherly advice: Tommy Sherratt (above) came from behind to beat rival Nick Kyme after some words of encouragement from dad Roger.