Queens in semis
Malawi Queens yesterday recovered from a slow start to thrash Kenya’s Divas 72-31 in their second Pool B encounter and book the 2023 Netball World Cup Qualifying Tournament’s semi-final berth with a game to spare in Pretoria, South Africa.
With the tournament’s format stipulating that top two teams from each pool progress to the semi-finals, Queens have done it as they will still remain within the required brackets even if they lose their last pool match against Zambia tomorrow.
The Peace Chawinga-Kaluwa charges, who triumphed 69-50 over e-Swatini in their opener on Monday, are currently at the summit of their pool on better basket difference as they are tied on four points with second-placed Zambia, who beat e-Swatini 64-50 in an earlier clash yesterday.
Kenya and e-Swatini, who will meet in their last pool match today, are third and fourth without a point after registering two straight losses apiece.
“I am pleased with our transition from defence to attack. I thank the girls for playing so well today,” Chawinga-Kaluwa said in a post-match interview monitored on SuperSport.
Second placed team in Pool B will be up against Pool A winners in the last-four.
If Malawi beat Zambia and finish on top of their pool they will avoid a possible semi-final tie against the event’s highest-ranked side South Africa, who are likely to finish top in Pool A.
The two finalists will occupy two of the four World Cup slots for Africa.
Hosts South Africa and Uganda automatically secured the other two slots for being ranked fifth and sixth in the world, respectively.
Uganda are not taking part in the qualifiers while if South Africa finishes within the top-two brackets, the third positioned team will make the grade.
South Africa’s Spar Proteas, who have so far registered three straight wins after their 58-30 victory over Tanzania yesterday, are eager to win all their matches to avoid losing some rating points as Africa’s number one team.
Yesterday, the seventh-ranked Queens had a shaky start against 40th-ranked Divas as they scraped to a 13-9 lead in the first quarter. They were fond of misplacing passes to deny the goal-shooting end, comprising Joyce Mvula and Jane Chimaliro, a chance to plant many baskets.
They upped their game in the second stanza, where they increased the basket margin from four to 14. The Queens demonstrated their vast experience with some quick passing skills with Player of the Match Takondwa Lwazi-Mtonga dictating the centre and goal defender Towera Vinkhumbo-Nyirenda effortlessy intercepting Kenya’s attacks. A 31-17 lead at half-time was a deserved result for their improved performance.
Malawi hit the gas pedal in the third segment to force the Divas on the back-foot with quick transition into the shooting circle. It was no surprise, therefore, that Queens scored seven baskets before the Kenyans finally got it right under the loop. The Kenyans tried hard to put up a strong resistant but their effort proved to have no effect as Malawi increased the tally to 54-25.
The Queens found their full flow in the last quarter as the Divas appeared out of sorts and their coach Joseph Makau seemed to have no clue on how to contain their higher-ranked opponents.
In the segment, Queens further sharpened their shooting prowess to get a 41-basket margin victory
