Malawi bounced back from defeat to beat South Africa 38-34 in the third and final SPAR Challenge netball Test on Wednesday at the University of KZN Indoor Arena in Durban, to level the series one-all.
After a tense 45-45 draw in the opening Test in Polokwane on Saturday, South Africa put in an outstanding performance in Cape Town on Monday when they beat Malawi 56-35.
However on Wednesday night South Africa appeared somewhat jaded, and mistakes once again bedevilled their play.
Malawi, on the other hand, played like spirited demons, and having taken an early lead, never allowed the hosts to get ahead. Not even the large crowds noisy support for the home team could give the South African side the winning edge.
South Africa started with the same line-up that won Monday’s match, but coach Burta de Kock made a number of changes during the game.
Captain Bronwyn Bock-Jonathan and vice captain Leigh-Ann Zackey were both substituted after the first quarter, with Refiloe Mochaka coming on for Bock-Jonathan and Adele Niemand replacing Zackey.
With their two leaders gone, the players seemed uncertain at times and were often indecisive with ball in hand.
Malawi ended the first quarter 10-8 ahead, and the teams traded goal for goal in the second quarter, each scoring seven times.
In the third quarter, Malawi initially went into a five goal lead, but South Africa surged back strongly to outscore Malawi by eleven goals to nine as the teams ended level on 26-all.
It was all Malawi in the final quarter, with the visitors scoring 12 goals to South Africa’s eight.
“We had enough ball possession, our defence was good, but we were not strong enough in attack, and our shooting let us down,” lamented De Kock. “The players didn’t seem to be able to put all the movements we had practised into effect.”
De Kock rejected suggestions that South Africa might have been complacent after their emphatic win on Monday.
“They were on a high after the win, but they knew the job was not finished,” she said. “If anything, they were even tenser, because expectations were greater after than win.”
Netball Results – Howard College Campus, UKZN
Wednesday, 25th July 2007:
1st quarter: South Africa 8-10 Malawi
2nd quarter: South Africa 15-17 Malawi
3rd quarter: South Africa 26 -26 Malawi
Final Score: SPAR South Africa 34 -38 Malawi
Test Matches:
21 July: Polokwane: South Africa 45-45 Malawi
23 July: Cape Town: South Africa 56-35 Malawi
25 July: Durban: South Africa 34-38 Malawi
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