Zimbabwe will contest for the 13th/14th place at the Netball World Cup 2023 after they beat Singapore 68-40 in a Pool E match in Cape Town. It was the first time these two sides have met in a World Cup.
The Gems set the foundation for the win in the first quarter with a 15-goal lead. They dominated the mid-court with well-executed passes and a fast pace. When the ball landed in the circle, shooters Nalani Makunde and Nicole Muzanenamo kept the scoreboard ticking and between them, only missed one attempt.
In the next 15 minutes, Singapore got into the double digits but still couldn’t manage to make a significant dent in Zimbabwe’s lead. The African team kept their noses in front and went into halftime with a score of 38-19.
Zimbabwe had to contend with a new-look Singapore in the third quarter when the Asian team came out with a greatly improved energy. Despite their slight frames, defenders Jamie Lim and Reena Manogaran put up a fantastic effort against the more experienced Zimbabwe shooters with a handful of deflections and successful pickups. Finishing in other areas of the game however let them down.
The final quarter saw the momentum swing back in Zimbabwe’s favour. Goalkeeper Elizabeth Mushore, who was named most valuable player, made life difficult for the Singapore shooters with excellent play in the circle. She used her height to great advantage to tower over her opponents.
Much was expected of Zimbabwe before the start of the World Cup with the team hoping for a finish among the top nations. They would be disappointed landing outside the top ten in Cape Town.
Most Valuable Player: Elizabeth Mushore (Zimbabwe)
Goal Shooting Percentage: Zimbabwe 94.4 per cent / Singapore 72.7 per cent
Penalty Count (Contact and Obstruction): Zimbabwe 50 / Singapore 21
Quarter scores: 19-6 / 38-19 / 54-34 / 68-40