SPORTING DIGEST: Netball

Netball

The second favourites New Zealand were virtually eliminated from the World Championships in Birmingham last night after losing to Australia, 45-44. New Zealand's only hope of reaching the final is if Australia lose one of their next five games and NZ win all their remaining matches.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (Birmingham): Group W: Namibia 48 Sri Lanka 38. Group X: Malaysia 54 Malta 42; Papua New Guinea 75 Cayman Islands 36; Singapore 51 Hong Kong 47. Group Y: South Africa 69 St Vincent 60. Group Z: Jamaica 71 Barbados 46; Australia 45 New Zealand 44.