Sri Lanka edge out New Zealand 3/2

Bernard Perera in Thailand

VOLLEYBALL: Sri Lankan women spikers with a superb team effort outplayed New Zealand in a five setter to win the game three sets to two at the 14th Asian Women’s Volleyball Championships at ‘The Mall’ court here in Nakon Ratchasima, Thailand yesterday.

Sri Lanka were not at their best from the beginning of the game and lost the first set at 25-18. First it was New Zealand who took control of the situation and straight away got off to flying start but the Lankans kept the pressure on the Kiwi lass’ and came closer when the scores were reading 10 in favour of Kiwis.

At this stage Deborah Hill and Rebecca Toomaga played an excellent part to take their side to first set victory. The next set began once again with the New Zealand girls going ahead in the early stage.

But the Lankans made no mistakes and caught up with their opponents to be in close range. Lankans went ahead when the scores were reading 08-05 by three points in a row.

Nadeeka Athukorale and Chandima Akarawita kept the score moving fast and also managed to have a five point lead. The fighting spirit displayed by both teams saw the set go beyond the mark while taking the set at 27-25.

With the morale boosting second set win the women from Sri Lanka gave no room for the opponents to have their own way. They got of to another flying start by taking four points at a stretch which also baffled the opponents.

New Zealand women could not cope up to the play that was adopted and went on to lose the set 21-25. In the latter stages of the set Kiwis tried to make a comeback by collecting few points to reduce the lead. Sri Lanka 2 New Zealand 1.

The fourth set began with New Zealand making a strong fight back to come to equal terms. Their tactics worked well for them at this stage and took a good lead. At this stage the Lankans could not get their act together and had to lose the set before reaching the 20 point mark. Sri Lanka is scheduled to play their final game today against Iran.

Meanwhile in another one sided game Indonesia defeated Iran in straight sets at the same venue.