Mvula roars in Thunder’s glory
Malawi netball export Joyce Mvula on Friday inspired Manchester Thunder to beat Team Bath 64-54 in the semi-final in the United Kingdom’s (UK) Vitality Netball Superleague and was awarded her fourth Player of Match Award this season.
This was the second consecutive match in which the 28-year-old bagged the individual accolade after doing the same in their last match a few days ago as Thunder completed the regular season with 20 straight wins.
Shooting at 92 percent accuracy, Mvula contributed 33 goals to help her team close in on the title after finishing third last season.
“Team work still making the dream work. POTM [Player of the Match] again! It can only be God. A big shout-out to my team for a great play and our beautiful Thunder fans cheering,” she wrote on her Facebook page.
With her display, the former Blue Eagles Sisters shooter maintained her stand as the league’s second leading scorer with 740 goals. Ugandan shooter Peace Priscovia of Surrey Storm leads the pack with 853 while London Pulse’s Assaindey Olivia Tchine is third on 711.
Following the latest victory, Thunder are expected to face defending champions Loughborough Lightning in the final.
Lightning beat London Pulse 56-44 in the other semi-final clash.
Her compatriot Towera Vinkhumbo-Nyirenda’s team Strathclyde Sirens have finished their campaign on position eight to earn a ticket into the Fast5 Championship.
As for Australia-based Malawi Queens shooter Mwawi Kumwenda, her team Melbourne Vixens was on Saturday expected to face Adelaide Thunderbirds in their 13th round match.
Victory would secure them the minor premiership and a potential home grand final. As of on Saturday, Vixens were lead the eight-team table with 40 points from 12 games, eight points ahead of second-placed West Coast Fever.
