Outstanding Malawi goal shooter Mwai Kumwenda capped a record-breaking season by spearheading the Victorian Fury to a five-goal win over NSW Waratahs in the Australian Netball League grand final.
The Fury fought back from eight goals down to complete an unbeaten and claim their fourth ANL title on Sunday with a 56-51 win in Adelaide, emulating the Waratahs unbeaten run in 2011.
Kumwenda shot 38 goals in the grand final at a 97 per cent accuracy to finish the season with a new record of 461 goals - crushing the previous best of 370 set by teammate Simone Nalder.
In doing so she became the first international player to win the ANL most valuable player award, polling 38 votes from the Fury's ten games.
Victorian Flames' Alice Teague-Neeld was the next best, polling 33 votes.
Fury coach Stacey West had nothing but praise for the Malawi Queens star, who will line up against the Australian Diamonds in October's two-Test series.
"She has contributed massively in her volume of shooting but also in her character and personality and professionalism to the sport," West said.
"I know that Mwai has got a fantastic future ahead of her."
Kumwenda was excited about taking on the Diamonds in Wollongong and Gold Coast.
"I'm looking forward to playing against Australia because they are a tough team and we will try our best," she said.
West praised her players' commitment across the season.
"The athletes were outstanding in their preparation to play, their ability to compete and their love of playing and representing Victoria," West said.
"I couldn't have asked for anything more."
Earlier, the Victorian Flames capped off a successful debut season in the competition by claiming the bronze medal, beating the Southern Force 53-52 in the play-off for third and fourth spots.
