Boosted by their first victory of the Netball World Cup 2023 over Sri Lanka on Monday, Singapore produced a strong start in their next Group E clash against Barbados in Cape Town on Tuesday.
Barbados have won all five previous Netball World Cup meetings between these two sides, the most recent one being a 69-34 victory at the last Netball World Cup in Liverpool, in 2019.
Lacking some energy in the opening quarter, it looked like the Bajan Gems’ unblemished head-to-head record might come to an end. They went into the first break one goal down on 12-13.
But Singapore lost momentum somewhat in the second quarter, and a switch of Latonia Blackman to goal attack and Kadeen Corbin to goal shooter for made all the difference for Barbados, who started pulling away to lead 29-24 at halftime.
Like in so many of their previous matches, the Bajans’ intensity level seemed to drop in the third quarter.
Exerting more defensive pressure, Singapore came back at them, first equalising at 33-all and then staying level to reach the final break on 40-40.
Three unanswered goals from Corbin in the first two minutes of the final quarter saw Barbados pulling away again and this time they made it stick. Corbin finished with a 95 per cent shooting average as the Gems secured a 55-50 win.
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