Surrey Smashers pulled off an incredible 5-0 win over Team Derby at Surrey Sports Park on Monday evening to retain their hold on the top spot of the National Badminton League table.
Carl Baxter pulled off the shock of the night as he defeated English number one Rajiv Ouseph in a tie-break to hand Smashers the win in match 3, before Soraya de Visch Eijbergen added another huge victory to her name after beating world number 31 Karin Schnaase.
“I feel so excited. The crowd was amazing.” Baxter said after his against the odds win against Ouseph.
“To do it here is pretty good, with 1000 people chanting your name. I’ve spent my whole career trying to beat Rajiv. Results like this show just how special the National Badminton League is.
“This is one of the great days of my career!”
A 1012-strong Surrey Sports Park crowd witnessed yet another memorable night for Surrey, as they took the first ever 5-0 win in the National Badminton League to ensure they hold on to top spot after match night 4.
Derby looked to be on good form in the opening exchanges of match 1, as Martin Campbell and Gail Emms took the first game of the night against Matt Nottingham and Gabby Adcock in the mixed doubles, which the hosts quickly turned the deficit around to win the match 3-1.
Emily Westwood and Eefje Muskens took to the court in match 2 to face Kate Robertshaw and Lydia Powell and it was the visitors who took a 2 game lead. But a perfectly timed PowerPlay shuttle in game 3 ensured that Surrey pulled back to win 9-6, before turning the match on its head to win 3-2 thanks to a cruising 5-2 tie break victory.
At 2-0 it was the turn of English number one Rajiv Ouseph to take on Smashers’ star Carl Baxter, and it was the Derby man who quickly took a 0-2 lead despite a number of game saving points from Baxter.
Superb awareness and athleticism from the Smashers player handed him a 9-8 win in game 3 before he pulled the match back to 2-2, holding a shot at a match win in the deciding tie-breaker.
With the home crowd firmly behind Baxter, he raced to a 3-1 tie-break lead over Ouseph leaving him just one point away from a historic win, and a match night victory for Smashers, which he completed in style to secure an emphatic comeback and win 3-2.
Match 4 served up just as much excitement for the home crowd as heroine of match night 3 Soraya de Visch Eijbergen came up against world number 31 Karin Schnaase. Two tight opening games were just edged by the young Smashers player before Schnaase stepped up her game to win the 3rd. Unphased, de Visch Eijbergen dominated her opponent to hold her on the back foot in a long rally at 5-5 and went on to take the game 9-6 and pick up Surrey’s 4th win of the night.
Captain Chris Langridge and Dean George rounded off the perfect evening for Surrey as they defeated Andy Ellis and Chris Coles 3-0 to secure the first ever National Badminton League whitewash.
Smashers Coach Hayley Connor was delighted with yet another win for Surrey: “It feels amazing and I’m in shock. I never thought it would be 5-0 and we seem to be doing nothing wrong as far as the home crowd is concerned. And that is what it’s all about.”
The win sees Surrey Smashers keep their spot at the top of the NBL table after match night 4 and a 100% win record with 12 points.
Match night 5 will take place on Monday 23rd April when Smashers travel to University of Nottingham Sport before the final home match of the season at Surrey Sports Park on Monday 27th April as Surrey host Birmingham Lions.
Full match night 4 results
Surrey Smashers beat Team Derby 5-0
XD: Matthew Nottingham/Gabby Adcock 3-1 Martin Campbell/Gail Emms (3-9, 9-4, 9-4, 9-1)
WD: Eefje Muskens/Emily Westwood 3-2 Kate Robertshaw/Lydia Powell (5-9, 7-9, 9-6, 9-8, 5-2)
MS: Carl Baxter 3-0 Rajiv Ouseph (8-9, 7-9, 9-5, 9-2, 4-1)
WS: Soraya De Visch Eijbergen 3-1 Karin Schnaase (9-7, 9-8, 7-9, 9-6)
MD: Dean George/Chris Langridge 3-0 Andy Ellis/Chris Coles (9-8, 9-5, 9-8)