Sri Lanka lost their first super eight round match against China by three games to none at the Sugathadasa indoor stadium. The scores were (25-19), (25-21) & (25-23).
Sri Lanka came to this super eight round game after winning all three games and easily topping group A and on the other hand their opponents China came second behind Chinese Taipei in group C. The young Lankans were motivated with the support of the home crowd behind them and had a rapid start to the game by winning the early points in sublime fashion. However China clawed themselves back into the game and made it seven points all. ( 7-7)
After the scores reached ten points to nine in favour of the home side, the visitors won ten out of the next eleven points with some fantastic quick plays.(19-11) The Lankans won seven out of the next nine points and clawed back and to the delight of the home support and with that it was perfectly poised for a close finish in the first game.(21-18) But china showed their class when it mattered most and powered themselves by winning the first game twenty five points to nineteen(25-19)
The second game started like the first as both teams played good points but China went ahead of the game and lead by the first technical time out by leading eight points to six points .(8-6) The home side were trying their best to stay in touch with the visitors as the game was having some brilliant plays and by the end of second technical time out Lankans were still trailing by sixteen points to fourteen points.(16-14) Just like the first the game Chinese went ahead by storming themselves in the end of the second game and winning it comprehensively by twenty five points to twenty one.( 25 -21)
The Chinese took the upper hand in the beginning of the third game and went ahead by leading eight points to five points( 8-5) and then the home side won five straight points to lead ten points to eight points (10-8) Afterwards China won six out of the next seven points.(14-11) The game was heading for an intense finish as it became a see-saw battle. Lankans with the home support took the lead as scores were nineteen points to eighteen (19-18) and that’s where for the third consecutive time, the Chinese pulled out their best yet again as they clinched a nail biting game twenty five points to twenty three points.(25-23)
The Chinese won the match three games to none.(3-0) , the scores were 25-19, 25-21, 25-23. The home supporters were left saddened as the young Lankans came short in the end. The home side were a shadow of their best as they were ruthless in the previous group matches. On the other hand the visitors played a fast tempo and took the game to the lankans from the first point and were deserving winners in the end. China took the game away from the Sri Lanka in the second half of all three games and played the big points better than the home side.
Charles Tillekerathne Coach of the Sri Lankan Side said, it was disappointing to lose but was happy in how the young team coped up against the much stronger and tall team like china and also reminded that with his previous coaching stints with the under 18 youth side in the same tournament on previous occasions the Lankans had lost to the top sides like China , Korea by ten points or more gap. He pointed out that there has been a tremendous improvement of the present side and is looking forward to bounce back in the next game against Chinese Taipei in typical fighting spirit tomorrow. Shehan Lakshitha, captain of the Sri Lankan side said, they were up against a strong side and China played a quick game and that they( lankans) made a lot mistakes.
Sri Lanka next play group C leaders Chinese Taipei today at 2pm on their next super eight round match
