Minnows Malawi shock Silver Ferns to leave New Zealand in danger of missing Commonwealth Games glory

MALAWI have cause one of the biggest shocks of the Commonwealth Games and followed it up with some of the best celebrations after upsetting New Zealand.

Malawi celebrate their massive upset win over New Zealand. Picture: Getty Images

THE once-mighty New Zealand netball team is in crisis after Malawi claimed the biggest upset in Commonwealth Games netball history with a stunning 57-53 win over the Silver Ferns last night.

New Zealand have made all five gold medal matches since netball was introduced in Kuala Lumpur in 1998, winning in 2006 and 2010.

But the powerhouse is staring down the barrel of being banished to the outhouse after Malawi finished over the top of the slipping Silver Ferns with goalshooter Mwai Kumwenda the star with 41 goals.

While Australia dominated an injury-hit South Africa and cruised to a 60-38 win, the Kiwis were shocked by a 17-9 third quarter that blew the game wide open after they’d led the small African nation by seven goals at quarter-time.

Malawi celebrate winning the Netball match between New Zealand and Malawi

Malawi extended their lead in the final term and euphoric scenes erupted on the fulltime siren with coach Whyte Mulilima saying the result will have a massive impact at home.

“We have beaten the untouchables. We can walk tall now,’’ he said.

“Everybody will be shocked back home. They never expected us to win.

“God gave me the strength and the wisdom to beat New Zealand. So I’m thankful to God, thankful to the players and to all the crowd for their support.

ABSOLUTE SCENES!!!

🇲🇼Malawi beat the 🇳🇿@SilverFernsNZ 57-53

Check out the dance moves, incredible!#GC2018 #7CommGames pic.twitter.com/B3MRpjQauc

— 7CommGames (@7CommGames) April 8, 2018

“New Zealand are the number two team in the world. Beating the champions means we are good. We are better.’’

Malawi Centre Takondwa Lwazi said the side refused to get down in the dumps after losing to Uganda on Saturday.

“It was very tough for us, but we discussed it and said we would never give up. Beating New Zealand is the best. We are very proud of ourselves today,’’ she said.

“This is like a dream. Everyone at home will be proud of us.’’

New Zealand captain Katrina Grant said the Silver Ferns only had themselves to blame.

“We really struggled to get ball in defence and we didn’t treasure it when we did get ball. We were chucking careless ball away on attack,” she said.

Malawi celebrate winning the Netball match between New Zealand and Malawi

“There’s a few youngsters who are still learning. This is their first time here at the Commonwealth Games.”

Malawi have been on the rise for some time and while they were expected to push New Zealand, nobody expected them to beat the Silver Ferns.

New Zealand can still make the semi-finals but even if they do, they are not playing well enough to serious challenge Australia.

The Silver Ferns lost two warm-up matches to Jamaica before the Games and were anything but impressive in lacklustre pool victories over Uganda and Wales.

And Wednesday’s match-up with England on Saturday looms as a make-or-break clash as another defeat would likely pit New Zealand against Australia in the semi-finals or eliminate the Silver Ferns all together if results do not go their way.

Mwai Kumwenda of Malawi catches the ball during the Netball match between New Zealand and Malawi

The cocktail of undergoing generational change while also having their club teams forced into an all-New Zealand competition and no longer playing the strong Australian sides, has left the Silver Ferns exposed.

In other netball results yesterday (SUN), Jamaica scored a convincing 79-41 win over Northern Ireland while England were forced to work hard to claim a 55-49 victory over Uganda.

Originally published as Minnows Malawi shock Silver Ferns to leave New Zealand in danger of missing Commonwealth Games glory