Last match of the day was Ray Martin, through the route of the New Zealand qualifiers, up against the recent WBT Lifetime Achievement Award winner and six times World Indoor Champion, Scotland’s Alex Marshall MBE. A tough draw for any player.
Marshall opened up proceedings in the International Arena at Potters Resort in the first set in good form but it was clear that New Zealander, Martin, was struggling to catch the pace and Marshall was quickly in a commanding lead on the third end at 5,0. However, Martin managed to stall the Scot as he took a double on end four but then Marshall just closed Martin down as he powered his way to a 11,2 finish.
Second set and Martin began to get the right feel and it was getting tighter between the players and the scoreline stood at 3 all in the fourth end. Fifth end and it was Martin that managed to hold off Marshall and took a double count. Ends six and seven saw them take a single each with Martin then piling on the pressure for Marshall as he took a double taking the scoreline to 4,8 for Martin. Marshall now needed a full count of four to level the set and the match – he was laying three shots and each had one bowl left, Martin was first and seemed to freeze a little, overplayed his bowl and went past leaving Marshall a relatively easy draw for the full count of four – Marshall played his bowl, as it neared the head it was suddenly apparent that it was just fractionally overweight and he only got a three. Set to Martin 7,8 and the tie break.
Into the tie break and Marshall resumed full normal service to which Martin had no reply as Marshall took the first end. Second end and Martin just could reproduce the bowls he had played prior and it was Marshall that took the second end and match.