KEY POINTS:
Malaysian bowler Siti Zalina added a New Zealand title to her list of trophies when she beat Nelson veteran Marie Watson in a thrilling women's singles final in Christchurch yesterday.
Zalina is rated the best female bowler in the world, having won the past two Commonwealth Games singles titles, and she is also the Australian Open champion.
But she had to rely on luck as well as class in coming from behind to earn a 21-20 win over Watson, one of New Zealand's most accomplished players in the past two decades.
Watson, who won the Commonwealth Games pairs title with Judy Howat in 1990, put the pressure on early, shooting out to a six-shot lead and at the halfway stage was in command at 14-7 ahead. Zalina rallied, shortening the ends when she got the chance, but was still 17-20 down heading into the penultimate end.
That's when her luck struck, with a running shot at the head as Watson held sway.
It hit the front bowl, then took out Watson's shot bowl, giving Zalina three and tying the match. On the last end, she scored a toucher with her first bowl and Watson was unable to wrest back the match.
It is the second successive year a Malaysian has claimed the singles title, with Nor Fidrah Noh winning last year.
Later, Aucklanders Jo Babich and Bev Crowe claimed the women's pairs title, thrashing Christchurch pair Karin Ware and Maureen Doherty 25-4. The Beckenham pair conceded defeat after only 16 ends.
Babich and Crowe are both from the Carlton-Cornwall club, but are a new pairs combination.
Babich, who has already won the Auckland centre triples title this season, will return to Auckland to play in the centre singles final, hoping for a treble to celebrate.
She admitted winning the national title was a dream come true and paid tribute to Crowe and the partnership they have been able to develop so quickly.
"Bev is an awesome little lead, we've enjoyed each other's company and supported each other all the way through."
- NZPA
