Queens recover
Malawi Queens yesterday recovered at the Pent Series Championship in Windhoek, Namibia to beat the hosts Desert Jewels 64-43.
This was a relief to the Queens who started their campaign on a bright note with a 56-38 victory over Zimbabwe’s Gems on Monday before suffering a 59-43 loss to Uganda’s She Cranes on Tuesday.
As the highest-ranked side at the six-team contest, the Queens are a side that other contestants are determined to beat to gain rating points on the world netball rankings. The Pent Series is a rated tournament.
Yesterday, as monitored on Namibia Netball Association Facebook page, the Queens thrashed the 24th ranked Namibians at their own backyard.
They led 17-12 in the first quarter before increasing the tally to 36-24 at half time, 50-35 in the third quarter and completed the rout 64-43 in the fourth quarter.
With United Kingdom (UK)-based shooter Joyce Mvula and goal attacker Jane Chimaliro leading the onslaught, it was clear from the start that the Queens were on the right path to a big-margin victory.
However, their outstanding scoring prowess was possible due to crispy and subtle passes they received from centre Sheila Dimba and rising star wing attacker Flora Chipeta.
In defence, captain Carol Mtukule-Ngwira and UK-based Towera Vinkhumbo-Nyirenda forced the Desert Jewels into making errors, thereby helping the Queens to concede less baskets.
Substitutes goal attacker Sindi Simtowe-Msowoya, centre Bridget Kumwenda and defenders Martha Dambo and Beauty Basiao did not disappoint either.
Said Queens coach Peace Chawinga-Kaluwa in a post-match interview: “We are happy to be back to winning ways. Today, we played well in all departments, especially in defence where combinations were up to standard.”
On her part, Mtukule-Ngwira said they will do their best to win the rest of their matches to salvage the Queens’ pride before proceeding to the Africa Netball Cup in Namibia next week and the Tri-Nations Tournament in England between November 22 and 29.
However, the latest result shows that Namibia have improved as the last time the two sides met at the Africa Netball Championship in 2017, the Queens triumphed 64-35.
For the Queens to win the series, they have to win their remaining matches against Zambia at noon today and Kenya tomorrow morning.
They should also hope that Uganda, who have so far won all their three matches, including 79-40 triumph over Zimbabwe yesterday, should falter in at least one of their last two fixtures.
