Malaysia on a roll in the SEAG bowling lane

Malaysia on a roll in the SEAG bowling lane

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia was on a roll in the bowling lanes Tuesday as stars Ben Heng and Alex Liew downed their Singaporean rivals to win the men's doubles gold at the 21st Southeast Asian Games.

The Malaysian pair smashed 2,597 pins to humble Singaporeans Remy Ong and Sam Goh who took the silver with 2,581 pinfalls. Gerald Samuel and Zulmazran Zulkifli also of the hosts settled for the bronze with 2,568.

What had been seen as a three-cornered contest with other world-class bowlers from the Philippines and Singapore has become an all-Malaysian show. The hosts had already secured the gold in the men's and women's singles.

The Malaysians hope to continue the winning streak with three more bowling golds at stake.

The 27-year-old Ben Heng, fresh from winning the men's singles title Monday, scored 1,356 over six games while his partner Liew had 1,241. Bowling is being held in Penang outside Kuala Lumpur.

"I was happy after winning my first personal gold medal yesterday, and today's victory made me much happier as I am back at my best after suffering a drop in form for some time," Ben Heng, the 1998 Commonwealth Games men's doubles gold medalist, told Bernama news agency.

National coach Holloway Cheah said: "I am glad to see Ben Heng's performance after he suffered a decline in his form for the last few years."

Liew, 25, said he felt the jitters on his games debut.

"I felt nervous yesterday but managed to overcome the feeling today to give my best," he said.

National bowling queen Shalin Zulkifli set the ball rolling when she won the gold in the women's singles on Monday.