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Higgins and Maguire keep Scotland on track

John Higgins has not yet found his best form © Getty Images

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Scotland followed up their battling win over Poland on Tuesday with a comprehensive 4-1 victory over Afghanistan in the Snooker World Cup in Thailand.

John Higgins and Stephen Maguire suffered shock defeats to 15-year-old Polish player Kacper Filipiak on Tuesday, but bounced back to keep their challenge on track.

Higgins knocked in a fluent 72 to win the opener against Mohammad Rais and a 74 from Maguire took the second off Mohammad Salem.

The Scottish pair were far from convincing in edging the doubles and Higgins was shocked by Salem in the reverse singles, before Maguire steadied the ship to leave them well placed in Group D.

England's serene progress continued after they narrowly edged Belgium 3-2 to move a step closer to the quarter-finals. Mark Selby starred with two individual victories and England took the doubles but Ali Carter, who was hindered by the effects of his Crohn's Disease, failed to chalk up a win from his singles matches.

"I didn't perform well at all, but I didn't get a chance in my first match," Carter said. "But all credit to Mark and he played really well. Hopefully if he doesn't have a good match then I will step up myself.

"I haven't felt that well all day and my guts have been bad and my Crohn's Disease has me feeling lethargic. I've played lots of matches feeling lethargic and still playing well. It's frustrating and it's been bad for three or four days with my stomach just feeling bloated and it's uncomfortable bending over the table. Today I wasn't in my best form and I scored about eight but one positive is I can't get any worse."

The Northern Ireland pairing of Mark Allen and Gerard Greene recorded their second easy win as they thrashed Brazil 4-1. Mark Williams and Matthew Stevens ensured Wales completed their second victory with a 3-2 triumph over Germany's Lasse Munstermann and Patrick Einsle.

"It's another win and that's all we need," Williams said. "I've been told ten frames gets us into the next round and this is another three and we're now on eight."

Republic of Ireland pair Ken Doherty and Gerard Greene, who were shocked by Pakistan on Monday, won a war of attrition - beating Egypt 4-1 to keep their hopes of qualifying from Group A alive.

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