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Silver Ferns - 59 44 - New Zealand A
FULLTIME
Fourth quarter
2 mins - Selby-Rickit pulls in a rebound and scores the putback.
4 mins - Nweke soars to nab a pass from the sky and puts it into the net from close range.
8 mins - Mini-run for NZ A ends with a bucket from Wilson. Nweke grabs the next.
11 mins- Superb intercept Watson and Nweke cashes in.
14 mins - Selby- Rickit makes the defence paty with a pair of baskets.
Third quarter (46-35)
1 min - The Ferns pulling away here at the end of the quarter.
4 mins - Bird grabs her own offensive rebound, puts it back in.
6 mins - Lovely passing interplay on the edge of the circle ends with a Wilson score.
9 mins - Wilson and Faulkner trade baskets.
11 mins - Byrd with a couple of mid-range shots for NZ A.
15 mins - Second half underway. NZ A on the board first.
HALFTIME
Second quarter (30-25)
1 mins - NZ A making the Ferns work for their points.
3 mins - Ekenasio leaps to reel one in and converts.
6 mins - Ferns continue to pull away, Nweke pouring them in.
9 mins - Nweke doing work under the basket.
11 mins - NZ A staying in touch here, Faulkner has been outstanding.
13 mins - Great defensive pressure from NZ A but Nweke eventually wriggles free for her first shot in a black dress.
14 mins - First sighting of Grace Nweke, the 18-year-old moving into goal shoot.
First quarter (13-12)
1 min - Nice possession for the Ferns, finished by Wilson.
3 mins - Ekenasio splashes three straight for the Ferns.
6 mins - Kirsten intercept, Wilson cashes in.
8 mins - Dunn grabs her first points, follows with another to take the lead.
10 mins - Ekenasio with a dime to Wilson, who makes no mistake.
11 mins - Superb defence turns to attack for the Ferns. Wilson converts.
12 mins - Maia Wilson hits back-to-back shots.
13 mins - Faulkner sinks the first bucket of the game to give NZ A the lead.
14 mins - Mikaere with a huge block to start their defensive efforts.
7:57pm - Some encouraging news for the Silver Ferns, as captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio is confirmed to start, an indication she's over the niggly injury that had her in doubt to play.
We'll have all the live action from 8pm, as the Silver Ferns begin a new era of NZ netball with a clash against the NZ A side in Palmerston North.
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Betting odds:
Silver Ferns - $1.13 NZ A - $5.00
Pre-match banter
A new Silver Ferns era begins on Wednesday, when they take the court for the first time since legendary midcourt and captain Laura Langman confirmed her retirement.
The Ferns take on NZ A in Palmerston North, part of a quad series that also includes NZ U21 and NZ Men.
But with Katrina Rore out injured and now new skipper Ameliaranne Ekenasio in doubt, the Ferns could be lacking in leadership.
"We'll see how it turns up tomorrow and we'll just see how it goes," Ekenasio says, when asked if she expects to take the court.
Someone who can't wait to get back out on court is defender Kelly Jury, whose last outing for the Ferns came during their disastrous 2018 Commonwealth Games campaign.
"I've been getting myself back to full fitness over the past year and just taking this opportunity when there is a space to take," Jury says.
A potential starting spot is up for grabs for Jury, with fellow defenders Rore and Temalisi Fakahokotau ruled out due to injury.
"With quality players out, it really cements the opportunity for players underneath that - the door is wide open," says coach Dame Noeline Taurua.
Also pushing for a starting spot is midcourt Kimiora Poi, who hopes to fill the void left by longtime idol Langman.
"I think there are a few midcourters out there that are really gunning for that position, so it's really competitive in the midcourt," says Poi.
