Only Scotland, 4-1 victors over the Czech Republic, can prevent the second seeds progressing when they meet in their last Group Eight match tomorrow.

 

Having beaten the Czech Republic by the same score yesterday at the Echo Arena, the hosts picked up where they left off despite manager Ian Wright making five changes.

 

England number one Andrew Smith swept aside Irwansyah, Wirral-born Helen Davies took slightly longer in the women's singles against Harriet Johnson before Athens Olympic silver medallist Nathan Robertson and Anthony Clark demolished Matthew Hughes and Martyn Lewis.

 

Mariana Agathangelou and Jenny Wallwork and, in the mixed doubles, Chris Adcock and Gabby White - in just 17 minutes - completed the whitewash as England, runners-up in this event last year, went one better than yesterday in not dropping a game.

 

Wright said: "I thought it was good today.

 

"It means in the first two matches all 12 players have had matches in the hall and all of them have won.

 

"It was important to get all of them out there as it gives us options for the team we select for Scotland tomorrow.

 

"It is the first time Helen has played a championship game for England and she was very nervous but did well to overcome that. it is nice for her to get a win under her belt."

 

Watson Briggs won two points for Scotland - one in his crucial men's doubles match with Andrew Bowman - to set up the group decider.

 

There were also wins for British number one Susan Hughes, and Imogen Bankier and Jillie Cooper in the womens' doubles.

 

Briggs said: "Our doubles match was an important one because we didn't want the match to go to 2-2 and it be decided on the women's doubles."

 

Ireland opened the tournament with a 3-2 win over Slovenia in which Sam Magee won two rubbers, the mixed doubles with sister Chloe and the doubles with Scott Evans.

 

They now sit behind Denmark in Group One.

 

The defending champions had to come from behind after world number six Joachim Persson lost to Pablo Abian - ranked 103rd in the world - in a 61-minute match before they eventually beat Spain 4-1.