KEY POINTS:
New Zealand avoided relegation with a dramatic 3-2 win over Finland in the Sudirman Cup world badminton teams tournament in Glasgow, Scotland, today.
They will remain in level three of the competition.
The New Zealanders, beaten in the first two matches, came back to win, with Dan Shirley and Renee Flavell snatching the decisive last fixture in the mixed doubles.
Shirley and Flavell beat Ville Lang and Anu Nieminen 21-17 21-13 to save New Zealand's day.
New Zealand had lost to Scotland and India to leave them on the brink of relegation
The Finns won men's singles, with Alan Chan losing to Lang 21-15 21-11, while Nieminen beat Rachel Hindley to go 2-0 up.
Shirley and John Gordon sparked the New Zealand comeback in the men's doubles, winning in straight games, then Donna Cranston and Flavell levelled it with a 24-22 21-15 win in the women's doubles.
The result moved New Zealand into third place in their group. They will now play a crossover match against the third-placed team from group A.
Results
New Zealand 3 Finland 2
Men's singles (NZ names first) - Alan Chan lost to Ville Lang 15-21 11-21.
Women's singles - Rachel Hindley lost to Anu Nieminen 6-21 12-21.
Men's doubles - John Gordon/Dan Shirley bt Mikko Vikman/Tuomas Nuorteva 21-7 21-18,
Women's doubles - Donna Cranston/Renee Flavell bt Villie Lang/Anu Nieminen 21-17 21-13.
- NZPA
