Lankans roar into the final

By Saif Izzaddeen

Sri Lanka will meet Maldives in the finals of the Tri-nation South Asian Netball tournament after they had steamrolled India by 93 points to 21 at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium yesterday.

An Indian player is looking for a break with the ball, but, the Lankan lasses are ready to thwart any of those moves. (Pic Saman Kariyawasam)

It was a one sided game from the very inception and Sri Lanka dominated the proceedings from the word go. Sri Lanka had the Indian team under their control and never allowed them dictate terms through the game.

Sri Lanka had a massive 23-1 lead at the end of the first quarter and then moved into a 46-7 lead at the end of the second quarter. In the Third quarter Sri Lanka replaced Chamila Jayawardena with The tall 6 foot nine inches tall Tharshani Sivalingam to the goal shoot position and Indian team had no clue as to how to stop her and Sri Lanka ended the quarter with a 71-14 lead.

In the fourth and final quarter Sri Lanka collected 22 points and India responded with 7 points and they won the match by 93 points to 21 and qualified to meet Maldives in the finals which will be worked off at the same venue at 4.15pm.

For Sri Lanka the players who shone were -- skipper and centre Gayathri Lankatilleke, goal attack Shashika Samarasinghe, goal shoot Tharshani Sivalingam and goal keep Sujani Dilrukshi.

Sri Lanka will meet Maldives in the Tri-nation South Asian Netball tournament final which will be worked off at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium today. The match will commence at 4.15pm.

Earlier in the day Maldives won their match against India by a margin of 58 points to 26 points.

Sri Lanka qualified to the finals with an unbeaten record after scored two wins in two matches they beat Maldives (64-32) and India (93-21) and they going by form Sri Lanka should go into final as favourites.

Maldives qualified to the finals they played two matches from which they beat India (58-26) and lost to Sri Lanka (64-32). Maldives will have a tough time playing against Sri Lanka who are on top of their game

The teams will be selected from the following squads
Sri Lanka – Gayathri Lankathileke(captain), Sashika Samarasinghe(vice captain), Damayanthi Jayathileke, Akila Jayawardena, W.M.N.M.Dhammika, Noeline Pereira, SAnduni Bollegala, Cahmalie Perera, Tharshani Sivalingam, Prescila Koch, Sujani Dilrukshi, Chamila Jayawardena

Maldives – Fathima Thrishma(captain), Aminath Sheura(vice captain), Aminath Soma, Aishath Reema, Mariyam Shifza, Mariyam Riznee, Aishath Naura, Aishath Nazima, Jumam ABD Nafiz, Hudha Zaki, Aminath Haleem, Nathasha Ahmed