Malawi Queens lose to Silver Ferns but still have chance to advance

If today’s final round results go the way the rankings suggests it should, New Zealand are expected to meet England in tomorrow’s semifinal, while Australia look set to take on Jamaica in the other final.

Australia’s 66-31 ravaging of South Africa in Sydney on Wednesday night guaranteed the defending world champions a top-two finish in their qualification pool, after having also beaten England. It means that when Australia win, they win by more.

Taumaunu said the intensity in the New Zealand camp has been lifting as they approach what for many of them will be the biggest games of their careers.

“If we do that, we’ll eventually create opportunities and get more ball to our shooters, which is what we need to do”.

There might be those who want to see the Silver Ferns do more than just alter their tactics when players such as Mes are hit.

“Australia were always going to take it up to us, but that’s the whole idea”.

“What they were trying to do is play advantage, and I understand that – they’re trying to allow us to get the ball unimpeded into the circle”, she said.

“I could see how frustrated she was getting and told her just to keep eye contact with me and keep it calm because at the end of the day what’s it going to do?”

Outwardly it would appear that way after two shaky performances, but the Ferns don’t seem to be panicking too much after last night’s match.

“We have to to do some analysis, because if we don’t we’ll be caught behind because it’s a very quick turnaround”, Alexander said.

In a telephone interview with Nyasa Times from Sydney, Kumwenda insisted the battle will focus on their next game on Friday against Jamaica.

They then finished third in Singapore four years later before sharing second spot with Australia in a tournament won by New Zealand in Glasgow, Scotland.

Jamaican spearhead Romelda Aiken admitted after Thursday’s tough 59-47 defeat of Uganda that it would be a challenging encounter against the intensely physical Malawians.

Key to England’s chances is captain and goal keeper Geva Mentor, says the BBC.

Potgieter, 21, came into the match with an 89% shooting accuracy and one of the highest tallies at the tournament with 174 goals, but had her work cut out with a marauding Layton clearly on a mission. “It is whoever shows up on the day to play their game will get the win and get the trophy”.