Botswana beat Zimbabwe in third match of Pent Series

WINDHOEK, 12 JUN  – Botswana’s senior national netball team won their first game of the 2018 edition of the Debmarine Namibia Pent Series after beating Zimbabwe 43-41 in their clash on Monday.

The defeat for Zimbabwe was their first at the competition, which was initiated in 2017. Zimbabwe became the first winners of the series in its maiden season.

On Monday, Botswana came from behind to beat their opponents who led the game in the second quarter.

With a handful of Zimbabwean supporters cheering their team on, the first quarter ended 10-10, but Zimbabwe kicked it up a gear in the second quarter to take a three-point lead.

The second quarter ended 22-19 in Zimbabwe’s favour.

For Botswana to win their first game at the competition they managed to lead the last two quarters of the match as they scored 12 points in the third quarter compared to Zimbabwe’s 10 to end the quarter with the score 31-32, still in Zimbabwe’s favour.

In the fourth quarter, the Batswana players scored 12 more points while Zimbabwe only managed to score nine, which saw them lose the match 43-41.

Speaking to Nampa after the match, a disappointed Zimbabwe coach Lloyd Makunde said his team did not play based on instructions given to them, but he is hopeful that they will retain the title they won a year ago.

“It’s now going to be a mathematic game if we are to win this competition. We are hoping for Namibia or Botswana to beat Zambia in their remaining games so we can mathematically retain the title,” he said.

Botswana coach Chetelo Abedininco told this agency that his team is finally beginning to understand themselves and he is hopeful of winning their last match of the competition on Tuesday against Zambia.

The games of the second edition of the Debmarine Namibia Pent Series are being played at the Israel Patrick Iyambo Police College in Windhoek between Namibia, Namibia A, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
NAMPA