Rwanda claimed victory in men's beach volleyball to move into the semi-finals ©Getty Images

Rwanda progressed to the semi-finals of the men's competition in beach volleyball here at Birmingham 2022, edging them closer to a first-ever medal at the Commonwealth Games.

Venuste Gatsinzi and Olivier Ntagengwa prevailed over Bradley Fuller and Sam O'Dea of New Zealand by a 21-18, 21-19 score.

They will be the underdogs against Australians Chris McHugh and Paul Burnett, who came from a set down to knock out Jayasinghe Liyanage Ashen Rashmika and Yapa Hamillage Sashimal Malintha Ya of Sri Lanka 16-21, 21-16, 15-9.

It was the end of the road for The Gambia's Sainey Jawo and Mbye Babou Jarra, who lost their quarter-final tie against the Bello twins Javier and Joaquin, of England by a score of 21-16, 20-22, 15-12.

The men's semi-finals field was completed by Sam Schachter and Daniel Dearing of Canada with a 21-9, 21-11 win against the Cypriot pairing of Antonios Liotatis and Charalambos Zorbis.

Australian Olympic silver medallists Mariafe Artacho del Solar and Taliqua Clancy won in straight sets against Scotland's Melissa Courts and Lynne Beattie 21-11, 21-11.

Vanuatu are into the semi-finals of beach volleyball again at the Commonwealth Games ©Getty Images
Vanuatu are into the semi-finals of beach volleyball again at the Commonwealth Games ©Getty Images

Miller Pata and Sherysyn Toko of Vanuatu won a mammoth match against Manolina Konstantinou and Zoi Konstantopoulou of Cyprus, with the score finishing 29-27, 30-28.

These teams are to meet in the semi-finals.

New Zealand's Alice Zeimann and Shaunna Polley won in straight sets 21-13, 21-15 to eliminate England's Daisy Mumby and Jessica Grimson, with their final four opponents being Sarah Pavan and Melissa Humana-Paredes of Canada.

The defending champions defeated Deepika Bandara and Chathurika Weerasinghe of Sri Lanka 21-9, 21-11.