PAUL DRINKHALL believes it is his time to rule the Commonwealth Games after he helped England into the table tennis men’s team final.

Both Liam Pitchford and Drinkhall won their opening singles matches against India to put England within one victory of the final.

But the 24-year-old and doubles partner Andy Baggaley came unstuck in an epic third fixture with the Indian pairing of Harmeet Desai and Arputha Anthony.

That meant it was up to Pitchford to seal the deal in his singles matches with Desai and he duly delivered, winning an epic five-game encounter 3-2.

And Drinkhall believes final opponents Singapore, on the evidence of their semi-final showing against Nigeria, are there for the taking.

“At one point when Liam was 2-0 up and 10-5 up, I thought it was going to be a relaxed win but it turned into an epic match,” he said. “He got a little nervous and made a few errors.

Then after that the other guy started playing the best table tennis of his life but it was great for Liam to come though it.

“We could have won the doubles and we had a few balls where in hindsight we could have done something different but we played well.

“We have got a great chance for a gold medal, we have all started to play close to our best table tennis now.

“We have got a great chance, Nigeria pushed Singapore close and they looked nervous so we have to go out there and do the same if we want the gold.”

Daniel Reed wasn’t called upon in the semi-final but watched his teammates guaranteed themselves at least a silver medal.

But having come second at Delhi 2010 and losing to Singapore, Reed is hopeful this time he can take gold.

“I’m really happy for the guys, it was a great performance and we have all played very well throughout,”

he said. “To come through a nervy end and make the final is great and I played a few matches, so for us to come out with a medal we are all happy.’’