Foster lost the first set 7-11 against English opponent Greg Harlow before using all of his experience to mount a superb recovery.

He powered through set two 11-1 before a 2-0 victory in the deciding tie breaker.

It followed his victories in 1998, 2001, 2005 and 2011 to mean he is just one behind six-time champion and fellow Scot Alex Marshall.

"I didn't think I played that badly in the first set," Foster told the BBC afterwards.

"I dropped a bad four for me, a great four for Greg.

"He came out of the traps so fast, I was just hanging in and it ended up the four was the killer.

"Greg was always in control and every bowl he played was top notch and it's the best I've seen him play in a long time with his first bowl and putting me under pressure, because not a lot of people do that.

"Greg's a class act. 

"After the first set, I just dug deep and I was pleased with the way I played."

The result also saw Foster avenge a loss in a third-set tie breaker against Harlow at November's Scottish International Open Bowls Championship in Perth.

 "I was delighted to make the final but obviously disappointed not to come away with the trophy," Harlow said.

"Obviously I was playing well in the first one. 

"I was going along nicely and was hoping for more of the same in the second, but Paul had other ideas."