Jason Banks kept his Commonwealth Games medal hopes alive with a dramatic comeback victory and will now face England's Sam Tolchard in a winner-takes-all bowls clash in Glasgow.
Banks faces England’s Sam Tolchard at the SEC Centre, after Fiji’s Rajnesh Prasad fumbled control of the group with a shock defeat to Pakistan’s Mohammed Ayub Qureshi. Banks and Tolchard now sit comfortably above Prasad on points difference, meaning the winner will take all when they meet on Monday morning.
Comeback victory
The Inverurie bowler ensured he stayed in medal contention with a comeback victory over Wales’ Ross Owen on Sunday, fighting back from a set down to win a one-end tie-break to all but end the Welshman’s medal hopes.
“It was just a crazy match,” he said. “In the first set, Ross was catching it so much better than me. I just thought I had to change the length. I managed to get the last two ends of the first set which gave me a bit of confidence. I started getting the bowls in in the second set and then the tie-break was anybody’s game. Once I was lying the shot, there was nothing I could do. I just had to hope, keep my composure and do everything I could.”
Familiar opponent
Banks and Tolchard are familiar foes, having played each other in a Tri-Nations match a few weeks ago. Tolchard was victorious then but Banks is not overthinking the task at hand. “I just have to take it as it comes. It is another tough game and I will do my best,” he said.
If Banks needs any extra support, he can at least rely on the home crowd. The SEC Centre has been right behind the 30-year-old, who was the first Scottish athlete in action at Glasgow 2026 last Thursday. “It is a huge help having the home crowd behind your back,” he added. “They spur you on that wee bit extra. It is great.”
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