Malawi Queens last night went down 69-50 to world champions New Zealand in their third Group B fixture at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

It was expected that the Queens would replicate their achievement at the 2018 edition where they secured a historic 57-53 triumph over New Zealand to become the first African team to beat the Silver Ferns.

However, the task proved too hard for the Queens as they suffered a 19-basket defeat.

A graphic presentation of the final result

The latest result means seventh-ranked Queens have to win their two remaining group matches against Trinidad and Tobago tomorrow and sixth-ranked Uganda on Thursday to have a realistic chance of progressing to the semi-finals.

After losing 66-41 to defending champions England’s Roses in their opening match and beating Northern Ireland 54-41 in their second match, the Queens are fourth in their six-team group with two points from three games. They have the same points as third-placed Uganda, who will have their third match today against the Roses.

New Zealand are at the summit of the group with six points from three consecutive wins. They are followed by England on four points from two games. Northern Ireland and Trinidad and Tobago have no points after two games apiece.

Australia, World Netball’s top-ranked team, lead Group A on better basket difference following a tie on six points with fourth-ranked Jamaica. Each has secured three-straight wins.

Fifth-ranked South Africa lie third on two points from three fixtures, the same number of points as fourth positioned Wales, who have played a game less. Scotland and Barbados are at the bottom without a point.

Top two teams from each group will make it into the semi-finals on Saturday while the rest will battle it out in classification matches on Friday.

Yesterday, with Mwawi Kumwenda starting as a goal-shooter for the first time in three games and Sindi Simtowe-Msowoya finally getting her chance as goal-attacker, the Queens started strongly to force the world champions on the back foot.

It was no surprise that after trailing by four baskets in the first quarter, they to cut it to two as the segment ended 15-13.

Malawi kept piling the pressure on the Silver Ferns in the second segment and they trailed by five baskets by half-time as the scoreline led 33-28.

In the third quarter, Kumwenda missed two consecutive scoring chances despite being well-fed by some long-range passes. This prompted coach Peace Chawinga-Kaluwa to replace her with Joyce Mvula, whose injection was immediately felt.

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