Welshman Joel Makin, from Pembrokeshire, fought out the longest match of the WSF Men’s World Team Squash Championship in France.

Wales pushed fourth seeds Australia hard in their group match at Modern Squash, Marseille.

The whole match lasted more than four hours to decide the three rubbers before Australia emerged 3-0 winners.

They have now qualified for the last 16, while Wales can join them with a win against the Czech Republic in their second match.

Left-hander Ryan Cuskelly, competing as Australian number one for the first time, survived an 85-minute five-game encounter against fast-rising Makin, winning 11-9, 9-11, 11-5, 4-11, 11-7.

Rex Hedrick sealed victory for record eight-time champions Australia with a 12-10, 11-8, 11-1 victory over Cardiff-born event newcomer Emyr Evans in 54 minutes.

The third rubber also went the full distance before hard-hitting Aussie Cameron Pilley claimed his 10-12, 11-9, 11-7, 5-11, 11-5 victory in 68 minutes over Caerphilly-born Peter Creed, 30, from Rhiwbina Squash Club.

“We knew Wales would be tricky to get past,” said Paul Price, the Australian national coach and a former world number four.

“If Joel had won against Ryan it could have changed everything.

“But the boys are really focussed and we now look forward to finding out who we play next.”

Wales now play their second group game against the Czech team at noon today (Wednesday).

Malaysia produced the first upset of the championships by beating Asian rivals India, the eighth seeds, 2-1.

Germany eased into the last 16 with a second victory in Pool G, but this time the No.7 seeds dropped a match when second string Scot Greg Lobban beat Raphael Kandra in five games.

German coach Oliver Pettke said: “I’m happy with the win – and it’s definitely positive for the team spirit for the rest of the week. It’s always close with Scotland – and it’s more difficult than the European Championships where there are four players in the team.

“It’s good to be in the top 16, but our best is yet to come.”

Ramy Ashour made his first appearance in the 2017 championship when he helped favourites Egypt to a 3/0 win against Switzerland, the 16th seeds.

Appearing in his fourth championships, Ashour beat the tournament’s youngest player Roman Allinckx, a 19-year-old, 11-2, 11-5, 11-5 to extend his all-time unbeaten record in the championship to 15 matches since 2009.

“It’s unusual for me to be the oldest player in the team and the fact that I’ve played in the event before makes it a little bit more comfortable as I know what to expect,” said the former World number one and three-time world champion.”

Finland’s record 17-time national champion Olli Tuominen reached a notable milestone in Marseille when, in his ninth appearance in the championships since 1999, he played his 50th match.

The former World number 13 went down 11-9, 11-7, 11-8 to long-time European rival James Willstrop as defending champions England eased into the last 16 with their second 3/0 win in two days.

“Finnish people aren’t naturally proud, but it feels good to have played my 50th match in this event,” said the 38-year-old.

“The fact that I have been able to play at this level for this long is great.

“Even though I lost today, it means a lot to me that I can still handle these guys – and I am still enjoying it!

“Three years ago I began to struggle with my calfs, but this is behind me now and I feel in really good shape – movement-wise perhaps better than ever.”

Results on day two of the WSF World Team Squash Championships.

Pool A (seedings in brackets):

[1] EGYPT bt [16] SWITZERLAND 3/0

Ali Farag bt Dimitri Steinmann 11-3, 11-4, 8-11, 11-7 (36m)

Ramy Ashour bt Roman Allinckx 11-2, 11-5, 11-5 (21m)

Marwan Elshorbagy bt Reiko Peter 12-10, 11-5, 11-5 (28m)

Pool B:

[2] ENGLAND bt [15] FINLAND 3/0

James Willstrop bt Olli Tuominen 11-9, 11-7, 11-8 (33m)

Adrian Waller bt Matias Tuomi 11-4, 11-7, 11-3 (27m)

Daryl Selby bt Jami Äijänen 11-7, 11-7, 11-4 (27m)

Pool C:

[3] FRANCE bt [14] CANADA 3/0

Gregory Gaultier bt Nick Sachvie 11-6, 11-6, 11-1 (31m)

Mathieu Castagnet bt Andrew Schnell 11-7, 11-4, 12-10 (35m)

Gregoire Marche bt Shawn Delierre 11-4, 11-5, 11-7 (32m)

Pool D:

[4] AUSTRALIA bt [13] WALES 3/0

Ryan Cuskelly bt Joel Makin 11-9, 9-11, 11-5, 4-11, 11-7 (85m)

Rex Hedrick bt Emyr Evans 12-10, 11-8, 11-1 (54m)

Cameron Pilley bt Peter Creed 10-12, 11-9, 11-7, 5-11, 11-5 (68m)

Pool E:

[5] HONG KONG CHINA bt [12] SPAIN 3/0

Max Lee bt Borja Golan 8-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-9 (56m)

Yip Tsz Fung bt Carlos Cornes 11-5, 12-10, 11-3 (35m)

Leo Au bt Iker Pajares Bernabeu 11-9, 7-11, 11-8, 11-4 (55m)

Pool F:

[6] NEW ZEALAND bt [11] USA 2/1

Paul Coll bt Todd Harrity 11-9, 11-7, 11-3 (40m)

Evan Williams lost to Chris Hanson 11-8, 8-11, 7-11, 7-11 (47m)

Campbell Grayson bt Christopher Gordon 11-6, 11-3, 9-11, 11-7 (58m)

Pool G:

[7] GERMANY bt [10] SCOTLAND 2/1

Simon Rösner bt Alan Clyne 11-7, 11-7, 11-9 (44m)

Rudi Rohrmuller bt Douglas Kempsell 11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 7-11, 11-6 (73m)

Raphael Kandra lost to Greg Lobban 11-9, 3-11, 10-12, 12-10, 8-11 (57m)

Pool H:

[9] MALAYSIA bt [8] INDIA 2/1

Nafiizwan Adnan bt Saurav Ghosal 11-8, 8-11, 5-11, 11-4, 11-9 (72m)

Mohd Syafiq Kamal lost to Mahesh Mangaonkar 11-8, 8-11, 5-11, 5-11 (53m)

Eain Yow Ng bt Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu 11-7, 5-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-5 (62m)