Netball: Diamonds work hard to make semis

Mwayi Kumwenda of Malawi (L) and Susan Fuhrmann of Australia compete for the ball. Photo / Getty Images

Australia 58
Malawi 44

Australia's netballers made the final four at the world championship in Singapore on Friday but not without an almighty scare from Malawi in their 58-44 quarter-final win.

After crushing all of their pool game opponents, the defending champions weren't expected to be troubled by the Africans, but Malawi got close enough to make the Australians really work for the victory.

Malawi got to within seven goals midway through the final quarter, which wouldn't have pleased Diamonds coach Norma Plummer.

However the Australians showed enough class and big game experience to maintain the gap.

The Diamonds edged to a 13-6 lead at the first break with Catherine Cox and Natalie Medhurst sharing the spoils in the goal circle.

That was extended to 28-17 by halftime with the Malawi side playing a physical, body-checking style of play to try to upset the Australians.

Plummer stuck to her method used throughout the championship of changing the majority of the line-up for the second half but Malawi took advantage while the new line-up was finding their feet.

And they didn't let up until the final whistle.

Their young shooter Mwayi Kumwenda lives in Australia and plays for Melbourne club Peninsula Waves in the Victorian Netball League and she and goal attack Sindi Simtowe were a challenge for Australia's defenders in each half.

Despite the loss Malawi, who finished fifth at last year's Commonwealth Games in Delhi and at the last world championship in 2007 in Auckland, would be delighted with the way they pushed one of the sport's super powers.

Australia will play the winner of the late quarter-final game between Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.

Meanwhile New Zealand and England will meet in the other semi-final on Saturday.

England steam-rolled Northern Ireland 87-16 while the world No.1 Kiwis had a shocking start to trail South Africa at quarter-time before prevailing 58-28.

- AAP