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AAP
AAP
Sport
Steve Larkin

Aussie men survive beach volleyball scare

Australia's Paul Burnett (left) and Chris McHugh are into the Commonwealth Games semi-finals. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Australian beach volleyballers Chris McHugh and Paul Burnett have survived a Sri Lankan scare to advance to the Commonwealth Games semi-finals.

McHugh and Burnett dropped their first set of the tournament in Friday's quarter-final but recovered to down Sri Lanka's Jayasinghe Rashmika and Yapa Malintha Ya 16-21 21-16 15-9.

The victory sets up a semi-final against surprise packets from Rwanda, Venuste Gatsinzi and Olivier Ntagengwa.

The Rwandans upset New Zealand's 2018 Commonwealth bronze medallists Sam O'Dea and Brad Fuller in straight sets 21-18 21-19 in their quarter-final.

Australia's McHugh, who won gold at the 2018 Games with Damien Schumann, and Burnett struggled early against the Lankans, who crafted a five-point break early in the first set which they maintained.

The Australian duo hit back in the second set with Burnett's powerful serve - his fastest effort was clocked at 91km/h - particularly damaging before they closed out victory with an emphatic third set.

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