Former world number one Thierry Lincou of France outfought and outlasted the young Australian Stewart Boswell last night in the Masters second round ? prevailing by three games to one.

The Frenchman, who was born on the Reunion Islands, enjoyed a stellar 2005 but has been somewhat off-colour in the major tournaments so far this year and has slipped to number four in the world rankings.

He had more than enough confidence to deal with Boswell on the glass court, however, with the youngster from Down Under ? who was once four in the world as well ? still looking unsure of himself after two years away from the sport nursing a debilitating back injury.

The first game was tight and represented squash stripped to the very basics: both players feeling their way into the rhythm of the match by keeping the ball down the wall and looking to command the centre of the court.

But Lincou had the edge throughout as Boswell committed far too many unforced errors when well placed in the rally, handing his opponent the game 11-6.

The story was much the same in the second, with the mistakes, particularly at the front of the court, costing Boswell dear as he went down 11-7.

On a muggy night, the match was constantly interrupted by the need to mop the large pools of sweat off the court floor ? mainly derived from the drenched shirt of Boswell, who looked as though he had gone for a dip in the ocean in between games.

Such sweaty exertion did not prevent him from picking up the pace in the third and he put the uncharacteristically-hurried Lincou on the back foot ? eventually claiming the game 11-8.

But the Frenchman looked to have significantly more in the tank in the fourth, working his opponent around the court with aplomb and finishing the match off 11-6.

?He can be very dangerous so I?m happy to have got through,? said Lincou afterwards.

?We both broke into the world?s top 50 at about the same time and were four and five in the rankings for a time. I?m glad to see he?s recovered from his injury and is back playing, but I?m looking forward to the next round.?

Meanwhile, in the second match of the evening session at the Jessie Vesey Sports Centre, world number eight Nick Matthew of England obliterated the challenge of Malaysia?s Mohd Azlan Iskandar, pulverising the world?s 13th best player in three easy games, 11-3, 11- 5, 11- 2.

Though the crowd was told beforehand by the master of ceremonies Robert Edwards to expect a close game between two well-matched opponents, Matthew proved just too fast and too strong and on this form will surely be a match for anybody in the tournament?s latter stages.