Netball World Cup: Sri Lanka to meet South Africa

By Hishan Welmilla, Sydney Australia.

The Sri Lankan netball team will clash against the mighty South Africans today in the last match of the preliminarily round of the Netball World Cup in Sydney, Australia.

The Lankans were beaten by Singapore and Malawi in their previous two matches. If they are unable to record a victory, the Sri Lankans will seek to keep their margin of defeat as slender as possible.

The South Africans have recorded only one win in the preliminary round and suffered a shocking defeat to Malawi. They will look to claim their second win today to become the second-best team to qualify for the next round.

It’s been 52 years since the teams last faced each other at a Netball World Cup, with their last encounter arriving at the 1963 tournament where South Africa won 48-26.

The Sri Lankan lasses could not record a win in the series so far. They lost to Singapore in the opening match 56-43. Sri Lankan then suffered their second defeat at the Netball World Cup 2015 at the hands of Malawi last Saturday by 101 goals to 18.  

The third day of the Netball World Cup began with a match in Pool D, where Wales met Zambia. Wales beat Zambia 71-44 and recorded their second win at the World Cup.  

Trinidad and Tobago played Barbados in a Pool A and won the match 55-39.

The most thrilling encounter of the third day was the match between traditional rivals the Australian Diamonds and the Silver Ferns of New Zealand. Allpohne Arena was at full capacity as both teams played wonderfully and it was almost a repeat of the 2011 World Cup final.

But the result went the other way as New Zealand pulled out a thrilling 52-74victory against the defending champions, leaving the hosts with a lot to do in the next round.  

New Zealand have broken Australia’s 21-match winning streak.

England beat Samoa in their Pool B match with 85 goals to 34 while Malawi trounced Singapore 75-31.