SRI LANKA (78) defeated SINGAPORE (57)

Sri Lanka has handed Singapore the sixteenth placed spot in the Netball World Cup, with Tharjini Sivalingam again wrecking havoc for the opposition. The towering Sri Lankan shooter fired off 77 goals from 85 attempts to beat the highest individual goals record at the tournament – one she set the day before. She scored all but one of Sri Lanka’s goals as they recorded a comfortable 78-57 win having moved to a 25-goal lead at the final break before Singapore cut the deficit in the final term. Hasitha Mendis might have only scored the one goal from two attempts, but helped her teammate with 40 goal assists from her 44 feeds. Up the other end Nauchalee Rajapakse had five intercepts and five deflections to be a rock back there for the winning side, while Dulangi Wannithileka was prominent in the midcourt with 19 goal assists and 25 feeds. For Singapore, Sindu Nair did all she could in the defensive goal circle with her height disadvantage working against her but still picking up nine deflections and two intercepts. Charmaine Soh was prominent with 37 goals from 40 attempts as well as eight goal assists and two rebounds, whilst Kimberly Lim helped herself to 16 goal assists and 23 feeds.

SAMOA (53) defeated FIJI (42)

Samoa locked in the thirteenth placed finish – the highest of those eliminated from the first round of action, whilst giving Fiji the place of fourteenth. Both Oceanic qualifiers showed good signs for the future throughout the tournament, but it was Samoa who claimed the 11-goal win on Day 9. A 14 goal to three second term was the difference in the game with Fiji winning two of the four quarters to show they were no easy beats in the contest. Lenora Misa had eight intercepts, two deflections and one rebound in a massive defensive effort for the winners, while Soli Ropati also worked hard in wing defence with three intercepts and two deflections. Tee Salanoa (23 goals from 24 attempts) was accurate to post, while Sanita To’o (17 from 20) had 12 goal assists and 15 feeds in working well with her teammate. For Fiji, Uniaisi Rauluni had 18 goal assists to go with her accurate 10 goals from 11 attempts, as well as 17 centre pass receives and 24 feeds. Lydia Panapasa (22 goals from 24 attempts) was efficient, while Episake Kahatoka and Kelera Nawai shared in six intercepts, five deflections and two rebounds.

ZIMBABWE (47) defeated by JAMAICA (77)

Jamaica has moved one step closer to grabbing fifth spot after downing Zimbabwe in the semi-finals of the fifth to eighth positions. The Sunshine Girls dominated the opening half and raced out to a 21-goal lead by the main break. The Gems chewed into the deficit by two goals in the third term, but then Jamaica got back on top in the last, scoring 18-9 to run out 30-goal victors. Kadie-Ann Dehaney stepped up to show she can fill in for Shamera Sterling, picking up two rebounds, two intercepts and six deflections, while Sterling had the two intercepts and three deflections herself. Adean Thomas was strong through the midcourt with 15 goals, 29 feeds, three intercepts and one deflection, while Romelda Aiken had her most time in the goal circle with 27 goals from 35 attempts, being a massive challenge under the post for the opposition picking up six rebounds. For Zimbabwe, Felisitus Kwangwa was again the best, recording two rebounds and six deflections at goal defence, while Pauline Jani did not miss a shot from her 18 attempts up the other end. Joice Takaidza had 21 from 26 herself, while Patricia Mauladi had 13 goal assists and 18 feeds.

MALAWI (55) defeated UGANDA (44)

Malawi overturned the result between the sides at last year’s African Championships to defeat fellow African nation Uganda by 11 goals and secure a top six spot. The Queens led early to open up an eight-goal buffer by the main break, and while Uganda cut it to a manageable six by the last change, Malawi stepped up in the final term with 14 goals to nine to win, 55-44. Takondwa Lwazi was amazing in the midcourt with 34 goal assists and 56 feeds for Malawi – almost the entire total of the opposition side. Joyce Mvula capitalised on those assists with 38 goals from 43 attempts, while Jane Chimaliro also impressed with her accuracy, scoring 17 from 18 and registering eight goal assists and 11 feeds. For Uganda, Peace Proscovia again stood tall, nailing all of her 24 attempts, picking up a rebounds, intercept and two feeds. Ruth Meeme was the key architect in the midcourt, amassing 18 goal assists and 27 feeds, while Mary Cholock was productive with 12 goals from 13 attempts as well as three goal assists and six feeds.