Malawi Queens on Wednesday morning lost 75-42 to Silver Ferns in their opening test of the Taini Jamison Trophy in Auckland, New Zealand.

The four-team tournament, comprising Fiji Pearls, Jamaica Sunshine Girls, Malawi Queens and Silver Ferns has been organized in preparation for the 2018 Commonwealth Games to be held in Australia from 4 to 15 April.

In Wednesday’s game, Malawi Queens named a strong squad which included foreign-based netballers Mwawi Kumwenda, Loreen Ngwira and Joyce Mvula. They were supported by Towera Vinkhumbo, Takondwa Lwazi, Thandie Galeta and Joanna Kachilika.

Stand-in head coach White Mlilima and assistant coach Griffin Saenda Junior were on their toes barking instructions to encourage the girls but this did not yield the desired result.

This was the first time the Silver Ferns have played the Malawi Queens since the Netball World Cup in Sydney in 2015 when they won 57-49.

Malawi Queens will also meet the Jamaica Sunshine Girls and Fiji Pearls before a finals day at the North Shore Events Centre on Saturday to determine the Taini Jamison Trophy winner.