Robert Paxton will be back delivering letters in the Heavitree district of Exeter on Thursday after failing to dispatch the defending champion, Alex Marshall, in the second round of the WBT world indoor singles championship at Potters Leisure Resort in Hopton-on-Sea in Norfolk.

Matching the world No 1 for most of the match, Paxton dropped two fours in succession that cost him the first set, but bounced back to hold a set lie in the second set, before Marshall got home 10-5, 6-5.

"Apart from one end, when I sent the jack four feet too far and dropped short with three bowls, I felt I played really well," said Paxton. "Alex is a great player, and, although he has not been at his best recently, he rose to the occasion and deserved to win."

Leading 5-1 in the first set, and 3-1 in the second, Paxton often had the burly Scot worried, especially after he had delivered a brilliant drive to set up three shots on the very last end.

"I was only two shots adrift at the time, so, if I had kept those shots, we'd have been in a tie-break," added the 30-year-old.

"But Alex unleashed a drive, and was spot on target to reduce my count to one."