England's hopes of taking the inaugural World Cup mixed team title were crushed in the final as Australia cruised to a 3-0 win in Malaysia. Brett Martin and his younger sister Michelle beat Mark Chaloner and Suzanne Horner respectively while Chris Walker lost to Rodney Eyles in the dead rubber. Martin, the world No 3, was in superb form in overcoming the eighth- ranked Chaloner, the young second string who clinched England's first- ever world men's team title back in November. Chaloner was rested in Friday's semi-final against Egypt to keep him fresh for Martin, whom he had beaten in the World Open in Cyprus late last year. The 33-year-old Australian applied his famous inventive style with a distinct caution - but Chaloner chose to try a patient defensive mode and that led to defeat.
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