1.00pm
KINGSTON, Jamaica - New Zealand will meet Jamaica in the world netball championship semifinals on Saturday, after world champions Australia beat the home side 48-43 in a titanic battle today.
The game was always going to be the biggest of pool play and lived up to expectations, with Australia unable to
stamp their mark until the final quarter.
The teams were level 10-10 after 15 minutes, with huge defence from both sides keeping the score low.
A 15-minute power cut during the second quarter failed to dim Jamaica's "Sunshine Girls" and they edged in front to finish the first half 21-20 ahead.
However, Australia's experience began to tell in the third quarter, the cool heads of goal shooter Cynna Neele and goal attack Sharelle McMahon ensuring any chances were converted.
Up 34-31 going into the final 15 minutes, the world champions piled on the pressure to go eight-up. But Jamaica, willed on by a noisy home crowd, refused to lie down.
They pegged the gap back to three goals before Australia again regrouped to take the game by five.
Barring any massive upsets in their final pool match today against Fiji or in the quarterfinals, New Zealand are set to meet the feisty Jamaicans in the semifinals.
Scores from preliminary games played today:
Samoa 52 USA 44
Grenada 31 Scotland 53
England 67 Niue 21
St Vincent 71 Cayman 24
Hong Kong 25 N Ireland 58
Australia 48 Jamaica 43
Bermuda 24 Wales 49
St Lucia 47 Canada 30
Antigua & Barbuda 59 Sri Lanka 67
Later:
New Zealand v Fiji
South Africa v Trinidad and Tobago
- NZPA
