ABERLADY'S Billy Mellors was this afternoon edged out of the World Indoor Bowls Championships by world number six Nick Brett.

In a high quality encounter, the Englishman won 6-5, 8-7 to advance to tomorrow's open singles quarter-finals at Potters Holiday Resort, Norfolk.

Qualifier Mellors, who beat world number nine Jason Greenslade in the first round, was leading 5-4 going into the ninth and final end of the first set.

At the death, Brett was lying two with his scoring bowls just past and either side of the jack.

With the final bowl of the end, it looked like Mellors had played the perfect forehand to, at the very least, rest on one of Brett's bowls and reduce the deficit, or even take the shot.

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But his effort somehow found the narrowest of gaps between Brett's two closest bowls and his opponent, somewhat fortuitously, took the first set 6-5.

There was little to separate the two and the second set was equally as tight, and tense, with Brett leading 5-4 after six ends.

Mellors looked in trouble when his opponent went 7-4 ahead but an exquisite last bowl in the eighth end saw the former Scotland cap claim three shots and tie the second set 7-7.

But it was the 2016 champion who took a single at the last end to secure the match, which was screened live on BBC 2.

Brett, who before the tie described Mellors as "world class", said afterwards: "Billy played great - probably better than I did. I'm just happy I got through today."