Wilson and O’Neill remain unbeaten in women’s pairs

Chloe Wilson and Shauna O’Neill have their destiny in their own hands after winning both their games on Sunday to stay unbeaten with five consecutive wins in the women’s pairs.

After beating previously undefeated Guernsey duo Rose Ogier and Ali Merrien In straight sets 4-1, 8-1 in the morning, they returned in the evening to continue their winning streak with another straight sets win over Zambia’s Getrude Siame and Foster Banda 6-4, 12-0.

They face Australia in their final Group game on Monday (14:45 BST) and need to win one set to make the semi-finals.

Even if they lose in straight sets, they would still advance to the semi-finals if Australia can’t overturn a shot difference than currently stands at +68 to +49 in the favour of Wilson and O’Neill.

In the morning game against Guernsey it was a tight first set with single shots taken on each of the five ends. Wilson and O’Neill won four of those ends to take the set 4-1.

“I think it was probably a wee bit scrappy from us at times, but we just didn't stop believing in each other. When Chloe was in, she covered me, and vice versa,” O’Neill said afterwards.

”So it was really nice to have that challenge. We hadn't really been that close in a set as yet, so it was nice to know that we can do that when we find ourselves in those tight positions.”

The match was decided in the opening two ends of the second set. Two brilliant bowls from O’Neill saw Northern Ireland take three shots and then followed that up with one more to take a quick 4-0 lead.

“Look, I was fortunate with my first bowl in the first end, where we got the three. I was lucky.

“But I played a good bowl in the second end and that kind of gave us the wee push forward. And then you kind of defend them from there out,” explained O’Neill.

From there they were able to defend the scoreboard but they did more than that, again with O’Neill shutting the door on any possible comeback from the Channel Islanders.

In the game against Zambia, the Northern Ireland pair found themselves 0-3 down after two ends and under real pressure for the first time.

They responded with a single shot and then five more to surge into the lead and take the first set.

The second was more of a formality as they boosted their shot differential, which may in turn be crucial.