CGames: Australia retain 4x100m freestyle gold in record time

GLASGOW - Australia claimed gold in the men's 4x100m freestyle relay in a record Commonwealth Games time of 3min 13:44sec on Friday.

South Africa had given the reigning champions a scare as they led at the halfway mark thanks to a fine first leg from Chad le Clos.

However, 100m freestyle world champion James Magnussen pulled level with Leith Shankland on the third leg before Cameron McEvoy pulled away for gold.

South Africa held on for silver, while England capped off a fine night in the pool with their sixth medal of the evening in third just ahead of hosts Scotland.

The Australian women's 4x100m freestyle relay team had set a world record in retaining their Commonwealth title on Thursday and despite victory Tommaso D'Orsogna admitted his opening leg had washed away any hopes of repeating that feat.

"I'm actually quite disappointed with my swim," he said.

"I didn't get us off to the best start. But in the relay when you fall down your teammates pick you up." McEvoy, though, wanted to reflect on the positive as he picked up his second medal of the evening having finished second to teammate Thomas Fraser-Holmes in the 200m freestyle.

"The girls' relay team yesterday put it in perspective how fast we can go if we come together as a team."