Sri Lanka beat Malaysia to keep hopes alive
Asia/Oceania zone III of Davis Cup:
Richard DWIGHT
TENNIS: The rains had abated and the most welcome sun, kept shining
through to brighten things up for the suspended doubles matches on day 2
Thursday to be completed yesterday day 3 in the Asia/Oceania Zone III of
the Davis Cup at Green Path, Colombo.
Lebanon was way ahead in group 'A' having completed their matches on
day's one and two, to win 3-0 against Singapore and UAE.
The suspended doubles matches due to rain involved Sri Lanka against
Malaysia, Vietnam versus Oman and Saudi Arabia taking on Singapore.
In Group 'B' Sri Lanka had lost to Oman 2-1, whilst Malaysia had lost
to Vietnam 2-1. This tie between Malaysia and Sri Lanka, especially the
doubles match, was crucial in that it would decide as to who would win
the tie, since both had won a singles match each.
The Sri Lankan combination of Harshan Godamanna and Rajeev Rajapakse
as against the seasoned Malaysian combine of Selvam Veerasingham and Yew
Ming Si witnessed a dour ding-dong battle with no quarter asked or
given, with both sides determined to register their first victory in the
tournament.
Godamanna stood way above the others on court and was a tower of
strength and inspiration to his partner Rajapakse and, countered the
veteran Veerasingham and his partner Yew Ming Si with calm composure of
a high order.
Godamanna's serves, his returns and those passing shots went to
clinch the issue in a three setter rousing match, with the Malaysian
giving off their very best.
The Oman pair of Khalid Al Nabhani and Muhammed Al Nabhani did cause
an upset, when in a 3 setter they defeated the more fancied Vietnam pair
of Quoo Khanh Lee and Min Quan Do.
The Singapore doubles pair of Daniel Heryanta and Min Sylvester Wee,
made short work of the Saudi Arabian combination of Saleh Al Raajeh and
Fahad Al Saad to beat them in two straight sets.
In the final stages of the evening in the tie between Vietnam and Sri
Lanka, Vietnam's Minh Quando beat Renouk Wijemanne 1/6, 6/3, 6/2, while
Harshana Godamanne of Sri Lanka beat Quang Huyngo 7/5, 7/5.
The completed double results:
Harshana Godamanna and Rajeev Rajapakse (SL) beat Yew Ming Si and S.
Veerasingham (Malaysia) 6/7, 7/6, 6/2.
Khalid Al Nabhani and Muhammed Al Nabhani (Oman) beat Q. Khanh Lee
and M. Quan Do (Vietnam) 2/6, 7/5, 6/3.
D. Heryantha and M. Sylvester Wee (Singapore) beat S. Al Rajeeh and
F. Al Saad (Saudi Arabia) 7/6, 7/5.
With the matches on day and one and two completed fully on Friday
morning, the positions are thus:
'A' Group: Lebanon beat Singapore 3-0, UAE beat Saudi Arabia 2-1,
Lebanon beat UAE 3-0, Singapore beat Saudi Arabia 2-1.
'B' Group: Oman beat Sri Lankan 2-1, Vietnam beat Malaysia 2-1, Sri
Lanka beat Malaysia 2-1, Oman beat Vietnam 2-1.
Lebanon is the only side that has won 2 ties in Group 'A' whilst Oman
has won 2 ties in Group 'B'. All the others have just won a tie each and
the first four (semi-finalists) will be decided on the matches today and
tomorrow.
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