DURBAN, South Africa (CMC):

Unheralded Malawi served notice this past weekthat they should not be under-rated at the 2007 World Netball Championship (WNC) by playing to a 1-1 tie with South Africa in a three-match series in South Africa.

After a tie and a South Africa win in the first two games, Malawi captured the last game at Howard College in Durban to snatch a series draw against the World No.5 South Africans.

Malawi are unseeded heading into the November 10-17 WNC in Auckland, New Zealand, because they missed the 2003 tournament in Jamaica.

Malawi played a tensely fought 45-all draw with the South Africans in game one at Ngoako Ramatlhodi Indoor Sports Centre in Polokwane.

South Africa won the second game 56-35, but Malawi outgunned them 38-34 in the last match.

Malawi will start their 2007 WNC challenge in Auckland against the reigning champions New Zealand in the opening game of the tournament on November 10 in Group A, which also has Wales and Botswana.

South Africa take on Malaysia in Group D in the competition's second match on Sunday November 11 and will also face England and Barbados in their Group D fixtures.

In the other pools, former champions Australia, Trinidad and Tobago, Samoa and Scotland will contest Group B, while Jamaica, Fiji, Singapore and Cook Islands will play in Group C.