South Africa’s Proteas put up a fierce challenge against the Silver Ferns in the third and final international netball test of the Taini Jamison Trophy series in Invercargill, New Zealand, on Sunday.

Following the match, Proteas assistant coach Zanele Mdodana described the result as bittersweet but said the performance had boosted the team’s confidence ahead of their upcoming clash with the world’s top-ranked Australia.