Softball: White Sox blown away by Chinese

A fifth inning blowout from China took them to a commanding 6-0 win over New Zealand at the women's world softball championship in China yesterday.

The White Sox went toe-to-toe with the unbeaten Chinese for much of their match at Beijing, keeping them scoreless until the fourth inning when the hosts scored a single.

However, in the following inning China rammed home four runs, followed by another in the sixth and final inning to hand New Zealand their second loss of the tournament.

They have also won two of their four pool B matches to leave their chances of qualifying for the playoffs evenly poised.

With games to follow against tournament favourites the US, Great Britain and Korea over the next three days, the White Sox have a fair chance of a top-four finish in their eight-team pool to advance.

Prior to yesterday's run onslaught, the White Sox had defended gamely while Sheree Cartwright was on the pitching mound.

Coach Mike Walsh replaced her midway through the fifth inning with the inexperienced Michal Tangaroa, who couldn't plug the holes.

In other results yesterday, Japan beat the Netherlands 10-0, Australia downed Botswana 9-0 and Greece had a 7-0 forfeit win over Colombia.

- NZPA