Defending champions New Zealand demolished Sri Lanka 125-15 in a pool A match in the 8th Netball World Youth Cup 2017 in Gaborone, Botswana.
Sri Lanka were coming off an improved performance where they scored 49 points in a 73-49 loss to Samoa who were placed 10th in the last Netball World Youth Cup. The last time Sri Lanka met New Zealand was back in 2000 at the 4th Youth Netball Championships in Cardiff, Wales where Sri Lanka lost 93-21.
Poor 1st quarter costs Sri Lanka a possible win
Lackluster first quarter plagued with bad passing and interceptions denied Sri Lanka a chancE..
It was a busy start from New Zealand who scored the first 11 points inside three minutes. Mellony Wijesinghe scored Sri Lanka’s first point to make it 11-1. The Sri Lankan girls struggled against the intense defense of New Zealand and were unable to string together a few passes. New Zealand would go onto add another 21 points while Sri Lanka could only muster a further 2, as the 1st quarter ended 32-3.
The 2nd quarter was an improved performance on both ends from Sri Lanka limiting New Zealand’s scoring to 25 points and scoring 6 as the 1st half ended 57-9.
Half time – New Zealand 57 – 9 Sri Lanka
The coaching staff made a few changes giving playing time to Malsha Rathnayake and Poorni Lakshani to allow some much-needed rest to Sri Lanka’s best player of the tournament Kaveena Rajapaksha. The 3rd quarter was much like the 1st as New Zealand scored 33 points, allowing Sri Lanka only 3 points (90-12).
Key players for Sri Lanka at Netball World Youth Cup
The Sri Lanka Youth Netball team will be participating in the 8th Netball World Youth Cup 2017..
New Zealand went onto add another 35 points in the 4th quarter ending the match 125-15. Sri Lanka will now battle for the 17th-20th positions alongside fellow Asian countries Singapore and Malaysia.
Full time – New Zealand 125 – 15 Sri Lanka
