BISHOP'S CHECKMATE

Coach fields younger 'keeper in surprise move as S'pore beat UAE to reach final

- David Lee

Sports Correspondent Up against an unbeaten United Arab Emirates side and a mustwin task to qualify for the Mirxes Nations Cup final, Singapore netball coach Annette Bishop sprung a surprise by handing goalkeeper K. Mishalenee her first start of the tournament.

It turned out to be a masterstroke, as the 22-year-old helped keep a tight lid on world No. 21 UAE for the 25th-ranked hosts to romp to a 68-47 win at the OCBC Arena Hall 1 on Sept 6.

The victory put them through to the final against Kenya on Sept 7 (3pm). The Africans topped the six-team standings after the round-robin games, while Singapore were second.

With the top three teams all recording four wins and a loss, the UAE finished third on goal difference and will take on fourthranked Ireland in the third-place play-off (1pm), while Singapore A and Canada will square off at llam to avoid the wooden spoon.

Bishop said: "We have 12 players whom we have confidence in to make changes. It's not just about the same seven starters. The great beauty is they all bring something different, so we can run a change like that.