The 22-year-old Zulkifli blitzed Nepomuceno with a run of strikes in the opening game and sustained her 50-pin lead into the second half to win, 470-406. She then went on to score a stirring come-from-behind victory over Norway’s Tore Torgersen in a gripping final showdown, 455-450, and became the first woman bowler ever to beat a man in a major world final.
"She was unstoppable and it’s hard to answer when someone plays like that," said Nepomuceno, the 1999 World Masters champion, who sparked hopes of a big comeback from a wrist surgery when he barged into the semis with a 457-411 win over Diane Buchanan of Canada Saturday.
But he found himself being outplayed by the talented Zulkifli, who bowled a 246 game in the opener then matched Nepomuceno’s series of strikes in the second half for a 224-210 game.
Zulkifli, who was born in Islington, North London, was ecstatic with her win over Nepomuceno.
"Paeng is an inspiration for the sport and I hope to make the same impact in my country that he has made in the Philippines. I just want to bowl the best I can in the final and give myself a chance to win," she said.
Nepomuceno, one of the most successful bowlers of all time, settled for $5,000.
In an absolutely sensational final, Zulkifli fought back from a four-pin deficit in the opening game as she matched Torgersen, the 2000 Bowler of the Year, strike for strike until the latter spared a nine in the fifth frame. Zulkifli spared an eight in the sixth.
Zulkifli then went strike, strike, eight to finish on 276 then watched Torgersen crumble with only a strike to win the crown worth $30.000, Torgersen took home $10,000.