There will be an all -Kiwi and an all -Aussie final at the Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Open a the North Shore Squash Club.
After the dismissal of the Australian players in the men’s quarter-finals of the tournament which is a PSA Challenger event the four New Zealanders battled in the semifinals.
Sixth seed Temwa Chileshe ranked at 206 in the world defeated good friend, Joel Arscott the seventh seed who is ranked just eight places lower in a four game match which featured plenty of rallies as both players were forced to race all over the court.
After splitting the first two sets it was Chileshe who then remained steady and cut down his unforced errors as Arscott then found himself making the mistakes. Chileshe, 20 then wrapped up the match 11-8, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8 in just on an hours play.
Reaching the final will be the third occasion for Chileshe to compete for a PSA Challenger title after being a runner up at Morrisnville to his brother and at the Waikato Open to Evan Williams.
The other semi featured Williams against Lwamba Chileshe in a replay of the NZ Championship final from last year on the same court and the Panmure Open a few weeks ago. Those matches had both gone five games, however this time Willams ranked at 86 in the world was too good from the start.
He negated Chileshe’s shots in a high-intensity opening 11-8 and from then on the fourth seed struggled to keep tabs with Williams completing game as he scored a quick-fire victory 11-4, 11-4.
The women’s final features the top two seeded Australians, Sarah Cardwell, ranked 59th in the world and Jess Turnbull ranked 66th.
Cardwell the daughter of former world No.1, Vicki Cardwell was too strong for reigning Auckland Open champ, Lana Harrision in a comprehensive display 11-4, 11-3, 11-4.
Cardwell played a smart contest keep the power and speed of Harrison at bay and controlling the points with ease at times.
Turnbull’s win over third seed Emma Millar was a little more hard fought. Millar who is a school teacher by day and squash coach and player at night and the weekend was quickly accounted for in the first game 3-11, but fought back in second with some signature shots from all corners of the court claiming the set 11-8, but Turnbull proved too consistent in the third and fourth winning 11-5, 11-5.
The women’s final is at 12.30 at the North Shore Squash Club with the men’s final at 1.30
Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Open Results:
Women’s Semis:
[1] Sarah Cardwell (Australia) bt Lana Harrison 11-4, 11-3, 11-4,
[2] Jessica Turnball (Australia) bt [3] Emma Millar 11-3, 8-11, 11-5, 11-5
Men’s semis:
[6] Temwa Chileshe [7] bt Joel Arscott 11-8, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8,
[1] Evan Williams [4] bt Lwamba Chileshe 11-8, 11-4, 11-4
(Source)