PAUL FOSTER MBE AND NEW PARTNER JASON BANKS BOOK A WORLD PAIRS SEMI FINAL SPOT

The new all-Scottish partnership of Paul Foster MBE and Jason Banks did the business over last year's beaten finalists - Mike Stepney from Elgin and Guernsey resident Jason Greenslade in this afternoon's Imagine Cruising World Indoor Open Pairs quarter final.

It was an even match performance from both pairings but in the opening set Foster - who has won this title five times - in 2002 with Hugh Duff and then an additional four times with Alex Marshall MBE - and Banks scored heavier mid set and enjoyed a single on the last end to win 8-6 and give them an early advantage.

Stepney and Greenslade put that disappointment behind them and motored through the first seven ends of the second set, taking a 6-3 lead with two ends remaining.

On the penultimate end Banks lay they shot and Foster added a second to cut that deficit to 6-5.

Then in the set decider, Stepney was forced into playing a runner with his second delivery, smacking the jack to the ditch, and Foster replied with a draw to the ditch just six inches away.

Skip Greenslade though will consider himself unlucky - twice catching the line but playing a fraction over the weight and dipping into the ditch at the end to leave Banks and Foster counting a single to draw the set at 6-6, which was good enough to give them a one and a half set to a half victory.

RESULT - WORLD OPEN PAIRS

PQF4 Jason Banks & Paul Foster MBE (Scot) bt Mike Stepney (Scot) & Jason Greenslade (Guernsey) 8-6, 6-6;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM5xvacXdEQ