Determined Fiji put up a great effort to beat Sri Lanka comfortably by 77 goals to 31 in the World Cup Netball ranking qualifying round played at the Allphones Arena in Sydney Olympic Park on Tuesday.
Sri Lankans who were missing their number one shooter Thisala Algama after being injured at the early onset of the game could not find a better replacement. The player who replaced Thisala as Goal Shooter, Hasitha Mendis was nervous as she missed 11 attempts out of 29 and skipper Semini Alwis too had a bad game missing 4 out of 15.
Deepthi Alwis the coach of Sri Lanka tried all the substitutes except Niroshini Paiva and all the players who were engaged in the game never came near to their potential.
The President and the administration of Netball Federation of Sri Lanka should introduce a new strategy to build the Netball of Sri Lanka at least to become number one in Asia.
During all their four losses Sri Lanka would have learnt many things and they must put up a gallant display to at least beat Scotland today and Barbados tomorrow.
Going back to today’s game, it was the quick hands of Fiji’s centre Nina Cirikisuva feeding into the ring, making way for shooters Unouna Afa Rusivakula and Unaisi Kubunameca Rauluni to continue their accurate goal scoring.
The second quarter saw wing attack Alesi Waqa dominate in goal assists and lead for almost every centre pass making way for wing defence Jane Dikini Costello help out bringing the ball down court.
Fiji played the first half high in turnovers and intercepts, that enabled them a comfortable 20 goal lead at half time.
The third quarter saw Sri Lankan goal keeper Viraji Pethigoda commit a high number of penalties in the goal ring, giving Fijian shooters access to score open goals.
It was Fiji in the end who took control of the last quarter with long overhead passes into the ring all the way from midcourt that saw them capitalise at the very end. The end scores read as follows in each quarter in favour of Fiji 19-7, 16-8, 19-8, 23-8
This was the third consecutive time Sri Lanka failed to have double figure in any of the quarter of the last three matches.
Sri Lanka will face Scotland on Wednesday.
Other results of the qualifying round
Pool E (Top 8)
Malawi 59 bt Uganda 53
Pool F (top 8)
South Africa 68 bt 39
Pool G (Bottom 8)
Samoa 46 bt Singapore 39
Trinidad and Tobago 66 bt Zambia 39
Pool H (Bottom 8)
Scotland 37 bt Barbodos 34
