Hope of a home nations win in the inaugural GolfSixes now rests on the shoulders of Scotland after top seeds England were knocked out in the quarter-finals at Centurion Club.

A win and two draws had seen Andy Sullivan and Chris Wood win Group A of the European Tour’s new six-hole 16-nation two-man team event at the St Albans club yesterday, but they came up short in the first quarter-final against Italy.

Matteo Manassero and Renato Paratore won the final hole to claim a 2-1 victory and the Italians will now meet the Danish pairing of Thorbjorn Olesen and Lucas Bjerregaard this afternoon after they defeated France’s Alexander Levy and Gregory Bourdy by the same scoreline.

"It's just a shame down the last me and Woody didn't hit the best of drives," Sullivan said after his tee shot on the last found a bunker and Wood drove out of bounds. "It's important on the par fives to get it in the fairway and give yourself a chance and we didn't do that.

"But it's been an unbelievable week and really taken off and I think this has massive legs to go further. You need to get guys who are willing to, not act silly, but get into the theme of having fun and I think that's what it's about.

"The best thing about it is that we had a lot of fun out there, but the competitiveness is there as well. I think it's the perfect combination over such a short format."

Scotland’s Richie Ramsay and Marc Warren only needed four holes to end the challenge of Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia and Jose-Filipe Lima 3-0 and yesterday’s Group B runners-up will now meet Group C runners-up Australia in the last four.

Sam Brazel and Scott Hend were locked at 2-2 with Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnat after six holes, but the Australians prevailed after the play-off hole.

Click here to read how yesterday's group stage unfolded.