Chinese Taipei beat Sri Lanka three games to none(3-0) The scores were 25-20,25-18,25-11. Chinese Taipei came to this game by defeating Australia in their previous super eight match and also top the group C ahead of China.
Whereas the home side were left baffled after their loss against China in their previous super eight match. Sri Lanka had their backs against the walls from the opening whistle as the visitors had the height advantage and used it to perfection. They encountered similar issues against China where height disadvantage undid them. However they showed tremendous resolve and intensity as they did in the group stage even though going down to Chinese Taipei
It was a nervy start to the game as both teams had some good plays as the scores remained tight at nine all(9-9) Soon after Chinese Taipei won seven out of the next nine points and scores were sixteen points to eleven (16-11)and continued to maintain their lead thereafter. In contrast the home side were playing the catching up game as they could not gather the momentum by putting together some points. With Taipei maintaining their lead they did not give a sniff of a chance for the Lankans to peck back into the game and the visitors ran out as winners of the first game by twenty five points to twenty.(25-20)
Chinese Taipei took the same momentum starting where they left off in the first game to the second game and won the first five points of the second game to take an early lead of five points to none (5-0) When the visitors led eight points to two (8-2) the Lankans showed their fighting spirit by winning nine out of the next eleven points (11-10) and took the lead first time of the game bringing the supporters to their feet. Immediately after the technical timeout was taken by the visitors and they came back swinging and took control of the game with some superb blocking and some outstanding plays. They kept at it and won the second game twenty five points to eighteen.(25-18)
When it came to the third game the home side had got off their blocks on the slow side and were trailing again in the beginning and the visitors were ruthless in their pursuit as they kept the pressure on the Lankans. Chinese Taipei steam rolled past the hapless Lankans who ran out of options and lost the third game twenty five points to eleven.(25-11)
The young Sri Lankan side weakness was evident as their blocking was an issue from the beginning. Size did have the say in the matter as well.
Tomorrow Sri Lanka will play their first knockout game for a place in the final four.
