Netball: Sri Lanka lose World Cup opener to Singapore

Singapore got their Netball World Cup 2015 campaign off to a winning start, overcoming Sri Lanka 56-43 at Netball Central in Sydney, Australia on Friday (7).   Veteran Premila Hirubalan, making her fourth world cup appearance, had a great defensive game, with fellow team mates Shiqi Ang, Li Li Chen and Kimberley Lim enjoying a victory on debut.   Sri Lanka jumped out to an early 3-0 lead with strong ball movement down the court.   Early turnovers were hurting the Singapore midcourters with the attack seeing little opportunities.   However as the nerves began to settle, Sri Lanka's lead was cut down and the game was locked up at 12-all after the first quarter.   Singapore shooter, Charmaine Soh began to find her aim in the second term, shooting four goals in a flurry to help give her team a handy 10 point lead.   Midway through the quarter, Sri Lankan centre Deepika Abeykoon was replaced by debutant Thilini Waththegedara.   With the half time scoreboard showing a Singapore lead of 30-23.   The substitutions kept on rolling for Sri Lanka in the third quarter, making it difficult to gain any momentum.   Sri Lankan goal-shooter Thishala Algama was keeping her side in the game with the nation pulling the deficit back to two.   Heading into the final break, the Singapore held a lead 39-34.   Shooters Huifen Chen Chen and Soh combined to push the margin out to 13 goals for Singapore in the final term eventually running out 56-43 victors.