Brilliant Godamanna delivers yet again!

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Category: tennis

Published on Saturday, 18 June 2011 21:03

Written by Guyanga Weerasekera

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Harshana Godamanna and Oshada Wijemanne were once again at their sublime best to defeat Malaysia, and earn Sri Lanka a confirmed qualification spot for Group-II of the Asia-Oceania Zone in Davis Cup in 2012.

After slaughtering Vietnam and Myanmar on the opening two days of the competition, the hosts defeated Kuwait narrowly yesterday 2-1. After that win, Sri Lanka only required one win from the remaining two ties against Malaysia and Lebanon. Wijemanne and Godamanna ensured that Sri Lanka did not need the last day of the competition to get the job done.

Wijemanne was on court first against Yew-Ming SI, Wijemanne consistent serving ensured that the first set went his way at 6-4. In the second set too Wijemanne broke Si in the first game however was not able to capitalize as Si broke back leveling the set at 5 games a piece. Lanky Wijemanne held on at the crucial moments to take the set and the match 7-5.

Next on court was Sri Lanka’s Mr. Reliable, Harshana Godamanna, who was pitted against a young Ariez Elyas Deen Heesham. Godamanna showed Heesham, the accuracy of his dangerous backhand, as winners ripped pass the young Malaysian. The most one-sided match during the tournament, Godamanna wound up the match 6-1 6-2. Godamanna improves his all time Davis Cup singles record to 26-10, head and shoulders above his other compatriots.

With qualification ensured Thangarajah Dineshkanthan and Rajeev Rajapakse took on Mohamed Nazim Mahmud Khan and Ahmad Deedat Abdul Razak, for the dead doubles rubber. Malaysians grabbed a consolation 6-4 6-1 win over the host.

Over the other courts Lebanon will join Sri Lanka in next years group 3 has they overcame a stiff Vietnamese squad 3-0. Myanmar and UAE hopes of avoiding relegation are slim as they lost their ties to Oman and Kuwait respectively.

The rain hampered event draws to a conclusion tomorrow, as teams’ battle for the final positions in the competition.

Tomorrows matches are as follows

•     Sri Lanka  v   Lebanon
•     Vietnam  v   Malaysia
•     Kuwait  v   Oman
•     Myanmar  v   United Arab Emirates

 

See more pictures of today's matches

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