The weekend played host to two breathtaking international test matches between England and Malawi that produced 240 goals. Find out how England secured the series win with one game left to play..
England 66 – 60 Malawi
Friday night at the Copperbox Arena, in London, played host to a sensational game of netball. The first quarter set the tone immediately with England racing ahead to a 22-11 lead. Goals are always a feature when these sides meet and with 33 getting scored after the first fifteen minutes, the bar was set.
The Malawi Queens struck back in the second quarter, reducing England’s lead from eleven to just five for a short spell. Late on in the quarter, England did take back somewhat control thanks to Kadeen Corbin’s 100% shooting stats, scoring 15/15, helping her side into half time with a nine goal lead.
Malawi’s free flowing netball was a sight to behold in the second half, fronted by star shooter Mwai Kumwenda. Despite this, the Roses goal margin always remained healthy and stretched to ten goals going into the final quarter.
An inspired Malawi fightback was required in the final fifteen minutes to avoid losing the first match of the series. Malawi forced multiple turnovers that reduced the lead but not to the point where the Roses looked threatened. Tracey Neville’s side held out to a 66-60 opening series win.
Player of the match – Kadeen Corbin
England 61 – 53 Malawi
The same venue hosted test match number two on Sunday, and yet again it was a goal fest. Malawi who were 11 goals behind after the first quarter in the opening match, had a much brighter start this time around. They forced multiple errors from the Roses especially when they were on the attack. Jodie Gibson helped steady the ship for the Roses during the later stages of the first quarter in which England won by seven.
Player of the match in the opening test, Kadeen Corbin, was making her 50th appearance for the Roses in this match and was once again influential upfront. It seemed Malawi had an answer for each England attack and kept within contention going into half time.
Tracey Neville made some changes at half time bringing on Eleanor Cardwell and moving Corbin into goal shooter. It was Malawi however, who had the better quarter, cutting England’s lead to just three thanks to some smart shooting courtesy of Mwai Kumwenda.
This set up a tense final quarter but the Roses held firm and extended their goal advantage in which Malawi could not respond too. The result means England have won the series with one game left to spare.
The final installment of the series comes this Wednesday, at the Genting Arena in Birmingham, which promises to be another thrilling game of international netball. Centre pass is at 7.45pm (UK time).
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