30th March, K.Lumpur: Newly-crowned Malaysian Open champion, Zulmazran Zulkifli led his teammates, Daniel Lim, Sin Li Jane, Kelvin Keong and Zandra Aziela to defeat Team Rest of the World, 4-1 to bag the Canon Cup 2008 on Sunday.

Team Malaysia already got the Canon Cup in the bag before Zulmazran Zulkifli took to the lanes in the final match against Finland's Mika Luoto as Malaysian Open Women's Masters runner-up, Zandra Aziela got her revenge by beating newly-crowned Malaysian Open Women's champion, Jazreel Tan of Singaapore in the fourth match, 172-160 to give Team Malaysia a 3-1 aggregate.

Team Rest of the World got a great start when Singapore's Jason Yeong-Nathan won the first match narrowly defeating Malaysia's Daniel Lim, 229-214. But Malaysia drew level with 16-year-old Sin Li Jane edging Hong Kong's Vanessa Fung, 228-218 in the second match.

National backup squad rookie, Kelvin Keong passed his first test at senior level when the 23-year-old thrashed Australia's Andrew Frawley, 256-211 in the third match to give the home team a 2-1 lead in the best of 5 matches encounter.

The re-match of the Malaysian Open Women's Masters final yesterday saw a close game between Jazreel Tan of Singapore and Zandra Aziela of Team Malaysia as both bowlers struggled in the difficult lane conditions drawing level after the eighth frame.

Striking out from frame 9 onwards by Zandra would see her shut the door on Jazreel but could only managed a strike, a spare in the final frame and a strike to end with 172. Jazreel had an opportunity draw level but a split in the final frame confirmed Team Malaysia's victory.

Team Rest of the World had a chance to narrow the victory to 2-3 if Mika Luoto could take his revenge on Zulmazran Zulkifli but the Malaysian was in sizzling form romping home a comfortable 222-183 win over the Finn.

Team Malaysia won US$10,000 and the Canon Cup with the 4-1 victory while Team Rest of the World took home US$5,000 for their gamely display as runner-up. At the inaugural Canon Cup last year, Malaysia narrowly lost to their challenger, 2-3 aggregate.

Photos by B.C. Cheah, MTBC.