Matthew was given a strong advantage by his three team-mates heading into the fourth and final match of the exhibition event.

He was caught up by Egyptian star Mohamed Elshorbagy, with both players eventually finishing the tie thinking they had won the overall event for their teams.

Matches were played over three games with points counting towards the overall score – a shortened format which will be implemented for the first time at tour level at the Canary Wharf Classic in London next March.

The opening tie saw England take the lead, with Daryl Selby coming from behind to beat Australia’s Cameron Pilley 10-12, 11-9, 11-7.

It gave England a 36-29 lead, which Laura Massaro then extended by winning her tie 11-9, 11-6, 6-11 against Hollie Naughton of Canada.

The scores were brought closer when New Zealand’s Paul Coll produced a strong performance to edge James Willstrop.

Coll won the decisive game of their match to emerge as a 12-10, 5-11, 11-7 victor, but England remained in a 97-88 lead.

The in-form Elshorbagy, who has dominated the opening tournaments of the season, then launched a stirring comeback for the Rest of the World team.

He won the opening game 12-10, but clawed back points when he triumphed 11-3 in the second to put his team into the lead.

Matthew was able to battle back in the third game, which he won 11-6.

Both players had thought they had claimed the overall victory, with points awarded for the number of games won.

Following a brief delay, it was revealed that England had taken the victory by a score of 122-121.

The event was viewed by England as a key warm-up ahead of next week’s Men’s World Team Championship in Marseille.