Barbados and Malawi take the points

DELHI, Oct 6 - DCWG
BARBADOS 60 - COOK ISLANDS 46

Barbados goal shooter Lydia BISHOP (BAR) nailed 48 goals from 49 attempts at 98 percent accuracy to lead her side to a 60-46 win over Cook Islands in the first of the day's Pool B matches.

A broken goalpost net, requiring a team of volunteers to mend, delayed the start but the hold-up took none of the heat off an intense 16-10 opening quarter falling in favour of Barbados.

BISHOP capitalised on her superior body strength to smartly position herself within easy scoring range and was unstoppable despite the close marking of Cook Island defenders Paula TE HUNA (COK) and Luciana MATENGA (COK).

Similar play from opposition goaler Curly GEORGE (COK) combined with the smooth ball delivery by centre Melissa PITTMAN (COK) saw Cook Islands close the gap by a goal to trail 28-23 at halftime.

The third quarter turned into a shoot-out between BISHOP and GEORGE as little else, bar four more penalties against Barbados, split the sides.

Cook Islands' new-look attacking combination of goal shooter Ngatokoroa TUITUPOU (COK) and Patricia TE HUNA (COK) closed the 42-36 gap to just three goals early in the final period but it was too little too late as Barbados emerged 14-goal victors.

MALAWI 82 - INDIA 26

To the crowd's delight, India drew first blood against Malawi but the top-ranked African side quickly rallied to score an 82-26 win in the second game of the morning session.

Malawi's experienced goal attack Mary WAYA (MAW) by-passed the mess in the middle and opted to direct long feeds, often from the transverse line, to fellow shooter Mwayi KUMWENDA (MAW) waiting under the post. The effective play, going unnoticed by India, contributed greatly to the 22-7 first quarter scoreline favouring the Queens.

Goal shooter Kiranjeet KAUR (IND), using what is quickly becoming her trademark lay-up shot, was the target in India's attack but her efforts were no match for the tight-marking trio of Ester NKHOMA (MAW), Caroline MTUKULE (MAW) and Grace MWAFULIRWA (MAW).

Sharp-shooter WAYA earned a well-deserved rest on the bench for the third quarter but the steadying presence of captain and wing attack Peace KALUWA (MAW) ensured Malawi increased its handsome 33 goal half-time lead to head into the final period up 64-17.

India added nine goals in the final period, its highest scoring quarter so far in the Games, but Malawi was a class above in readiness for an all-important clash against Australia on Friday.