Merrien is officially ranked world no. 2

Saturday 19th April 2008, 11:51AM BST.

Alison Merrien holds the WBL World Cup alongside beaten Kiwi Val Smith.

JUST how good is Alison Merrien?

The answer, plainly, is very nearly the best.

Her victory in the final of the WBL World Cup in Warilla was achieved against the official world indoor bowls singles champion, Val Smith, from New Zealand, and comes on top of her win in the WBL Champion of Champions event in November.

In between, she has appropriated the British Isles indoor singles title – in Llanelli last month – and this latest success elevates her to an all-time personal high of number two in the world.