After trailing by as many as 13, Barbados fought England to the wire before losing the second netball Test 53-48 today at the University of Bath.
Although England led all quarters 15-12, 32-24 and 44-35, Barbados held a brief lead 6-3 and extended it to 7-5 before England tied it 8-8, then went ahead for good.
But turnovers and poor passing proved to be the downfall of the Bajan lasses as half-time approached and England gradually pulled ahead through some accurate shooting from captain Pamela Cookey and Rachel Dunn.
Barbados didn’t have as many attempts in the second quarter, but were a perfect 12 from 12.
England hit their stride in the third and began to pull away as 35-27 became 40-30 and 43-30, the largest lead.
Barbados went on a five-goal spree at the end of the third and start of the fourth to narrow the lead to eight (44-36) and Cookey was brought back into the game to provide some stability in the attack.
With just over seven minutes remaining, the England lead had been cut to five (47-42) and it went as low as three (50-47) before Cookey scored to give England the breather. The Barbados starters were Laurel Browne, Nakita Piggott, Damisha Croney, Samantha Browne, Kizzy Marville, Latonia Blackman and Rhe-Ann Niles.
Browne scored 21 from 22 and Piggott 27 from 30.
Barbados lost the opening match 72-41 and play the final Test tomorrow in Surrey. (SAT)
