MUSCAT, Feb 7 - Pacific Oceania trounced Oman 3-0 in the Fed Cup Asia/Oceania Group II tournament in Bahrain on Wednesday. The defeat dented Oman’s hopes to top Pool C after they had edged out Malaysia 2-1 in the first tie at the Bahrain Tennis Federation Courts in Isa Town. Against Pacific Oceania, Oman’s Maryam al Balushi went down tamely against Carol Youngsuh Lee 6-0, 6-0 in the first singles rubber. In the second singles, top player Fatma al Nabhani also tasted defeat against Abigail Tere-Apisah 7-6(7/4), 7-5 in a well-fought encounter. In the doubles, Pacific Oceania’s Steffi Carruthers and Abigail thrashed Omani pair of Maryam and Aisha al Suleimani 6-0, 6-1.
On Thursday, Oman will play against Iran in their last group match. Malaysia are second in the group (4-2) after beating Iran 3-0. Oman are third with a 2-4 win-loss average. Pacific Oceania top Pool C (6-0), while Iran lost all their matches and are last. In Pool A, New Zealand topped the pool with a 3-0 thrashing of Lebanon. In Pool B, Philippines beat Kyrgyzstan 2-1 to top the group. In Pool D, Indonesia (6-0) claimed the top spot with a 3-0 result against Pakistan. Sri Lanka (4-2) are second after they blanked hosts Bahrain 3-0. Pakistan are third (2-4), while Bahrain are last with the hosts yet to win a match.
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