Glasgow 2014: Nick Matthew Denied Record Fourth Commonwealth Gold By Australia Doubles Pair

Nick Matthew missed the chance to claim a record-equaling fourth Commonwealth Games title alongside Adrian Grant as Australia's mens doubles team won the final gold medal of Glasgow 2014.

The duo of Cameron Pilley and David Palmer prevailed 10-11 11-7 11-9 to win Australia's second gold at Scotstoun and deny Team England a 59<sup>th gold medal of the Games.

The Yorkshire-born Matthew was seeking to draw level with Peter Nicol on four Commonwealth golds and become the joint most-successful player in the competition's history, but it was not to be as Palmer added a record eighth medal to his glittering CV.

James Willstrop and Daryl Selby earlier claimed men's doubles bronze with a two-game win over Scottish pair Alan Clyne and Harry Leitch.

"In the end I've played every day," Matthew said. "I am disappointed now , but it's good to be disappointed. We'll have to come back at the Gold Coast now. Palmer did it at 38 so why not us?"

Grant added: "Credit to Australia. They fought, we fought. I am glad there was a positive response from the crowd, because you never know what they're going to be like."

After retaining his singles title, Matthew was hoping to complete the 'double double' and successfully defend his doubles title from Delhi alongside Grant, and win a record-equaling fourth Commonwealth gold.

Despite the 34 year-old having featured in every day of the squash competition in Glasgow five weeks on from knee surgery, Grant's reputation as one of the fittest players in the game meant the English pair would look to exploit their potentially jaded opponents.

Pilley and Palmer had already featured on the final day of competition in winning bronze and gold respectively in the mixed doubles at Scotstoun but had already knocked out an English pair in James Willstrop and Darryl Selby in the semi-final and were seeking further success against the old enemy.

With the final gold of the Games on the line, the opening game began in tight fashion, with Matthew taking a leading role in the rallies and creating tight angles for the Australian return, which eventually yielded the first game point.

Though Australia were able to save it and set up a sudden death game point at 10-10, Grant played a perfect forehand into the corner to give England the lead in the match.

But some aggressive Australian stroke-play brought them back into the match and when Matthew missed with a forehand volley, they took the final to a deciding game.

Australia had seemingly put themselves on the brink of gold, but successive errors allowed England to level at 9-9. An engrossing rally ensued, with Matthew missing with a forehand in the corner to give the Pilley and Palmer a match point.

And following a chaotic exchange, Australia converted the match point through a Pilley forehand to win gold in thrilling fashion.