In fine form:

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia again found themselves in the shadows of arch-rivals Singapore when they finished third in the mixed team at the Com­monwealth Tenpin Bowling Championships in Auckland, New Zealand, yesterday.

Malaysia, led by anchor Isaac Russel Paul, had a combined total score of 5,074 pinfalls to finish third. The others in the team were Siti Shazwani Ahmad Suhaimi, Dayang Khairuniza Dhiyana Abang Jamalidon and Mohd Rafiq Ismail.

Singapore showed their depth when they bagged the gold with a 5,273 total. Australia, banking on their seniors, were second with 5,136 pinfalls.

At the last edition in 2011, Singapore ruled supreme when they nailed the gold while Malaysia came in second.

It was Singapore’s second gold in the tournament after the Javier Tan-Jaris Goh combination emerged triumphant in the men’s doubles on Wednesday.

Hopes are high on the 26-year-old Isaac to end the wait for the country’s first gold when he competes in the men’s Masters today. He was the top performer for the country in the mixed team, rolling down 205-267-257-213-202-228 for a six-game total of 1,372.

Isaac qualified for the Masters after finishing fourth in the All-Events with a 24-game total of 5,207. He will be joined by Rafiq in the Masters after the 16-year-old came in seventh.

Only the top 12 in the All-Events (based on their scores in singles, doubles, mixed and team) get to compete in the Masters.

National chief coach Holloway Cheah said that Malaysia would have had finished in a better position if not for their poor round in the fifth game.

“The bowlers tried their best to adjust but Khairuniza could not get out of trouble and managed a low score of 125. It was difficult to catch up after that,” said Holloway.

“The men have a better chance in the Masters event today. I believe Isaac is in a good form. The race for the Masters title is open and I hope our bowlers will take their chances well.”

Malaysia will also have two representatives in the women’s Masters in Shazwani and Khairuniza.

Shazwani, who has won three silver medals so far (singles, doubles and mixed doubles), made the cut by virtue of finishing third while Khairuniza made it as the eighth qualifier.

For the record, Malaysia have won a total of three silver and two bronze medals thus far. But everyone’s keeping their fingers crossed that one of the four bowlers will nail the most prestigious one – the Masters crown.

Team: 1. Singapore (Javier Tan-Bernice Lim-Geraldine Ng-Jaris Goh) 5273, 2. Australia (Brendan Meads-Bec Whiting-Ann-Maree Putney- Sam Cooley) 5136, 3. Malaysia (Isaac Russel Paul-Siti Shazwani Ahmad Suhaimi-Dayang Khairuniza Dhiyana Abang Jamalidon-Mohd Rafiq Ismail) 5074.

All-Events

Men: 1. Sam Cooley (Aus) 5590, 2. Jaris Goh (Sin) 5300, 3. John Wells (Eng) 5209. Selected: 4. Isaac Russel Paul 5207, 7. Mohd Rafiq Ismail 4978.

Women: 1. Lisa John (Eng) 5052, 2. Geraldine Ng (Sin) 4961, 3. Siti Shazwani Ahmad Suhaimi (Mas) 4951. Selected: 8. Dayang Khairuniza Dhiyana Abang Jamalidon 4826.

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