World Cup Netball 2015: Sri Lanka loses all matches in qualifying round

By Hishan Welmilla in Sydney, Australia.

Sri Lanka’s last hope of securing a victory in the qualifying round of the Netball World Cup 2015 was shattered by the strong Barbados here in Sydney, Australia by registering a comprehensive win by 67 goals to 33.

As expected the resistance from Barbados was seen from the beginning but Sri Lankan lasses managed it well and held them for 18-12 goals at the end of the first quarter.

But Barbados cut loose from the Sri Lankan defense and scored 19 goals to Sri Lanka’s 5 goals to read the score 37-17 goals at the end of the half way mark.

During the third quarter opponents became the fifth team to pass the half century goals mark against Sri Lanka and the score read as 54-25.  

The little resistance and on-court mistakes allowed the islanders to score only 8 goals in the final quarter and the Sunshine Girls finished the match by 67-33 goals

Previously Scotland (59-27), Singapore (56-43), South Africa (89-17), Fiji (77-31) scored beyond fifty goals against Lankans and one team (Malawi 101-18) crossed the century mark

Fyae Sealy and Sheniqua Thomas controlled the scoring spree with Nikita Piggott giving her share of the score.

Thisala Algama (13 goals) and Hasitha Mendis (17 goals) came back to their rhythm of shooting and able to score for the Lankans but it was not sufficient to have mercy from Barbados. Darshika Abeywickrama replaced Thisala Algama in the latter part of the final quarter but she could not make any big impact and skipper Semini netted 3 goals.

Sri Lanka will now move to play for the lower position play offs.

Earlier in the day Jamaica pulled out a win over Uganda 59-47 goals in a Pool E match played at the Allphones arena.

Scotland and Fiji were expected to meet each other in Pool H match later in the day at 6.20 pm local time and Samoa will meet Trinidad & Tobago soon after that match scheduled at 8.20pm local time.

There will be five qualification matches scheduled for today (14) before the teams head for the semifinals and play offs (Jamaica vs Malawi, Singapore vs Zambia, England vs South Africa, New Zealand vs Uganda  and Australia vs Wales).