Malawi National Netball Team produced an improved performance to lose narrowly to world number two, New Zealand, 60-54 in a practice match Tuesday in Cape Town, South Africa.
It was an encouraging display from the Queens ahead of the 2023 Netball World Cup finals slated to start on Friday.
During the last meeting, the Queens lost to the Silver Ferns 69-50 during last year’s Birmingham Commonwealth Games Group B fixture.
Malawi Queens Coach Samuel Kanyenda, whose charges defeated Fiji 60-49 on Monday, was pleased with the senior side’s performance.
“We played our second friendly. The combination and system we used today are working. The tactics we deployed are working. These games helped us to shape up as we go into the real competition now.
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“We saw which players were combining well and which ones are giving us results. That being the case, New Zealand has given us a very good test. We have seen the gaps we have and, in the few days that we have, we should be able to patch up the mistakes we observed,” he said.
New Zealand- based shooter of Central Pulse Joyce Mvula partnered captain Jane Chimaliro in attack while wing attacker Thandie Galleta and centre court Takondwa Lwazi were supplying the attackers with passes.
In defence, the Queens had wing defender Martha Dambo, goal-defender Towera Vinkhumbo and goalkeeper Lauren Ngwira.
The Silver Ferns led the first quarter by 16-12 before the Queens reduced the gap at half time to trail 29-27.
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At the end of the third quarter, New Zealand increased the lead to 45- 41.
In the fourth quarter, Grace Mwafulirwa replaced Dambo while Sindie Simtowe went in for Joyce Mvula.
Australia-based shooter Mwawi Kumwenda of Melbourne Vixens, alongside Shabel Bengo and Madalitso Mkandawire, were unused substitutes.
