Gems qualify for next round

Tournament debutantes Zimbabwe pulled off yet another positive result when they edged Northern Ireland 51-49 in the last game of Group A.

The result means Zimbabwe qualifies for the next stage, having secured the second slot behind defending champions Australia, who won all of their three games at the group stage.

The Gems join fellow African teams South Africa, Malawi and Uganda in the second stage of the netball world cup.

A total of 12 nations qualified to the next round where they will battle it out for a spot in the semis. Zimbabwe was drawn in Group F alongside defending champions Australia, Malawi among others.

Group F: Australia, Northern Ireland, Zimbabwe, New Zealand, Malawi and Barbados.

Group G: Jamaica, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, England, Uganda and Scotland.