Badminton: Team switch on cruise control

The New Zealanders racked up their third successive whitewash in qualifying play yesterday.

They beat Northern Ireland 5-0 to set up a final-round elimination tie with the equally impressive Indians at the Bolton Arena today.

The New Zealanders, the tournament's second seeds, breezed through the rubber, fielding close to their top line-up.

Daniel Shirley and Sara Runesten Petersen combined for the first time in the mixed doubles, taking over from Chris Blair and Tammy Jenkins.

Nick Hall played singles in place of Geoff Bellingham, and the men's doubles pairing of Shirley and John Gordon was restored after they sat out the 5-0 drubbing of Mauritius on Saturday.

For a second time New Zealand failed to drop a set as they cruised to victory.

It was good preparation for their clash with the fifth to eighth-ranked Indians, who beat Mauritius 5-0 yesterday.

Only the top team in each four-nation group will advance to tomorrow's semifinals.

New Zealand beat Seychelles on Saturday in their first outing.

Mauritius were a last-minute entry for the Games, after New Zealand's original first-up opponents, Mozambique, arrived in Manchester with only two team players.

Draws for several sports at the Games have been upset because no-shows have reduced fields.

- NZPA

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