India, Australia clinch semi berth

Kolkata, Jul 30 (UNI) Hosts India and Australia motored their way into the semi final decimating their clueless opponents Sri Lanka and Bangladesh respectively in group A matches of the 2nd Commonwealth Volleyball championship here today.

Indian spikers gave a much improved display with their blockers and smashers spearheading a 25-21 25-14 and 25-14 straight set triumph. The Indians took only 65 minutes to settle the issue against the lacklustre islanders.

Earlier, Australia rode on raw attack and awesome height advantage to humble minnows Bangladesh 25-16, 25-18 and 25-22.

Having won both their matches, India and Australia are already in the last four, and would meet on Thursday to decide the group champion.

The Indians were originally slated to take on Nigeria this evening, but with the African nation not making it to the tourney, there was a last minute change in the schedule.

In the opening set, the Indians established an early lead and were on six set points at 24-18 before the Sri Lankans picked up three points in a row to narrow the gap at 21-24. However, the Sri Lankans lost the set by conceding the next point with a wayward shot.

The two teams went neck and neck till 5-5, when the home side broke away to lead 7-5 with attackers Sanjay Kumar and Sube Singh smashing winners. The Lankans fell behind in the initial stages of the third set, and the Indians soon widened the gulf to 7-1. The hosts walloped up the third set in just 22 minutes.

Sanjay Kumar again did the bulk of the scoring with 13 points, while Sube Singh collected 11.

Expressing happiness, Indian coach G E Sridharan later said ''Our blockers and attackers did well. But we still have a long way to go.

We have a tough match at hand against Australia, and the semis will be tight as teams like south Africa, Canada and Pakistan are equally strong.'' MORE UNI BA AA PK RAI2251