KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 7 — Malaysia failed to land their first Women’s World Team Championship title after losing 1-2 to second seed England in a thrilling final at the Mark Sachvie Squash Centre in Ontario, Canada, late yesterday.

World number 17, Sarah-Jane Perry put England ahead after beating Delia Arnold 11-8, 11-9, 11-7 in the opening match but world number one Datuk Nicol David produced a sizzling display to level the tie after defeating her nemesis, Laura Massaro, the world number two, 11-8, 11-9, 11-3 in straight games. However, despite a spirited display, Low Wee Wern failed to beat world number 5 Alison Waters and lost 8-11, 7-11, 11-8, 4-11 in the deciding rubber, which lasted 69 minutes.

With the result, England secured their seventh world title. They had previously won in 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 2000 and 2006.

Nicol said despite the loss, she was satisfied with the performance of her teammates, who had helped Malaysia enter their first final in the Women’s World Team Championship since 1979. She congratulated England for having played well

“Wee Wern no doubt fought all the way, and didn’t give an inch. We all did as well as we could today, and there is always more to come. Well done England!” Nicol said, the tournament website quoted her as saying.

Top seed Egypt, whom Malaysia shocked 2-0 in the semi-finals on Friday, beat fourth seed Hong Kong by the same margin in the play-off for 3rd/4th placing.

Omneya Abdel Kawy put the defending champion ahead after defeating Tsz Ling Liu 11-6, 11-9, 11-5 before world number three Raneem El Weleily beat Annie Au 11-8, 11-7, 11-5 in the second rubber to clinch the winning point.

For the record, Malaysia’s best achievement in the biennial tournament was third placing in four previous editions — 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012. — Bernama