Sri Lanka loses to Fiji

• Netball World Cup 2019

By Hishan Welmilla 

The luck was not with the Sri Lankan side this time as they went down to Fiji by 59 goals to 44 in a pool placing-match of the Netball World Cup 2019 in Liverpool.

Sri Lankans were well placed in the first quarter by taking the lead of 11 goals to 10. But the Fijians bounced back strongly and scored brilliantly to take the second quarter by a margin of eight goals to have it written in their favour 17-9. 

Sri Lankan’s playing was quite exceptional in the third quarter as the Fiji adopted a different game pattern with the attacking lines obstructing the feeding points of the Lankans. But Sri Lanka came back to the game strongly by winning the third quarter 16-14.

The island nation could not kept the momentum they built in the third quarter and opportunity was went begging as Fiji secured victory 59-44 goals which left them to advance. 

Sri Lanka now face Singapore again in the final placing match on Friday (19) for 15/16 positions.

Big game 

Having claimed five straight wins in the Netball World Cup so far, the Ferns have impressed on court with confident and clinical play.

However, the first real test arrives today when New Zealand take on three-time defending champions, the Australian Diamonds.

A win won’t just be crucial for topping their pool – having already locked in a spot in the semi-finals – but it will undoubtedly give them the confidence they need to bring the World Cup home.

Meanwhile the hosts England will take on South Africa tomorrow as well in a decider later in the evening top secure a place in the semi-finals.