World Bowls Championships: Final Day recap
Australia has successfully defended its mixed pairs crown at the World Bowls Indoor Championships as Ray Pearse and Samantha Atkinson claimed their maiden world titles after scintillating displays.
The pair would defeat England in the final in a tiebreak to clinch gold and make the long trip home with the title of world champion.
Commencing their day against Malaysia’s Nor Farah Ain Abdullah and Izzat Shameer Dzulkeple, who took them both out in the singles quarterfinals, the Australians came out firing to lead 7-1 after four ends.
Atkinson and Pearse continued the push to finish the opening stanza strongly before racing out to a 10-0 lead in the second to put the result beyond doubt with an end to play and move to the gold medal match with a 9-2 11-3 victory.
Awaiting was England’s Rebecca McMillan and young star Harry Goodwin, who defeated Canada in straight sets in their semi.
The Australians picked up where they left off in the semi with a commanding opening set that saw them just seven ends from glory before the English pair hit back with a brilliant exchange of their own to force a one-end shootout for the gold.
Atkinson was given the mat and it would be her bowl that remained the closest to the jack thanks to a sensational setup from both that neither McMillan or Goodwin could penetrate.
The pair join 2023 champions Aron Sherriff and Kelsey Cottrell who saluted over Scotland in last year’s final at Warilla.
In the other finals, Ain Abdullah clinched women’s singles honours for Malaysia with a 6-2 6-3 win over Malta’s Connie Rixon, while Guernsey’s Jason Greenslade took down Dzulkeple 6-5 9-3 in the men’s decider.
View the final results and standings HERE
