Bowls: Date with Destiny for Edwards and Smith

Defending women's pairs gold medalists Jo Edwards and Val Smith booked an appointment with destiny at the world bowls championships in Adelaide yesterday afternoon.

The prevailed in a gripping semifinal against the tenacious Philippines combination of Maila Witheridge and Ainie Knight to earn a spot in tomorrow's  final against Australia's Rebecca Quail and Kelsey Cottrell over 18-ends at Lockleys Bowls Club.

The Black Jacks won their semifinal 13-12 in a four-hour marathon and will continue their quest for back-to-back world outdoor gold medals tomorrow.

Edwards and Smith always appeared in control of the match, but whenever they established what appeared to be a match-winning lead, the courageous Filipinos would dig deep to find something special to keep themselves in the game.

But in the wash-up, the best friends emerged victorious when the big points needed to be made.

And should they achieve successive gold medals, the question remains, will they commit to another four-year stint in a bid to match the legendary Irish combination of Margaret Johnston and Phillis Nolan, who won three consecutive women's pairs titles in 1988, 1992 and 1996.

Semifinal results:

Women's pairs: New Zealand beat Philippines 13-12, Australia beat Scotland 24-1.

Men's pairs: Scotland beat England 13-12, Australia beat Canada 23-14