The Diamonds win it! - Australia progress to the gold medal game with an 11-goal win
Australia 67 - 56 Jamaica - the Aussies will face New Zealand in the final
Well that is that. Bassett symbolically closes out the game with one final goal, her 49th from 52 attempts in a dominant display. The Aussies are through! The two teams link arms and embrace warmly, but that was a physical work-out for the Diamonds and certainly a bracing preparation for the intensity they can expect in tomorrow’s final.
Thanks to all of you for stopping by and joining in all the live action today - and also to Erin Delahunty for her courtside updates. Make sure you drop by tomorrow for all the live action from the final. Australia and the Silver Ferns is the finale we wanted and it’s the one we’ve got. It should be a cracker.
Updated
Australia 64 - 55 Jamaica (4th quarter - 1:17 remaining)
This game could have petered out in the closing stages but a few spiteful match-ups have kept it alive as a spectacle. The Aussies continue to hammer in and players like Layton, who’ll want some game time in the final, won’t give their opponents an inch of space. The latter out-rebounds Fowler Reid in another eye-catching effort. She’s really locked on today. The Aussies are home, anyway.
Australia 62 - 53 Jamaica (4th quarter - 3:52 remaining)
Fowler Reid is giving Sharni Layton plenty of stick, hooking an arm around her neck in one crude move that sees red mist descend upon the Aussie for a short spell. You could hardly blame her either. Williams is also penalized for over-stepping the mark when she’s opposed to Green, and this looks a little like the Jamaicans want to leave a few bruises if they can’t take the game. A few Aussies will be sore tomorrow morning, that’s for certain.
This was great:
THAT'S our captain! #AUSvJAM http://t.co/fMnhQGw8bP
— Australian Diamonds (@AussieDiamonds) August 15, 2015
Australia 60 - 49 Jamaica (4th quarter - 7:50 remaining)
Aiken has been swung into defence to face off with Bassett now, one last roll of the dice by the Jamaicans as time starts to ebb away. It’s a nice novelty, though not the best sign for their chances of pulling off a miracle win. Now Williams pole-axes Green and tempers are starting to fray a little as both sides realise that we’re into junk time. This might blow out a little now, you’d think.
Australia 57 - 46 Jamaica (4th quarter - 10:57 remaining)
This game is really opening up in an attacking sense. Defence is negligible from the Jamaicans and after I’d written her off as tired five minutes ago, Bassett is nailing the door shut now and moves to 43/45 as the Aussies take an 11-goal lead, the biggest of the day. Danger signs for the Sunshine Girls.
Australia 54 - 45 Jamaica (4th quarter - 12:23 remaining)
Well well, Aussie skipper Laura Geitz hit the bench now and Sharni Layton steps into the game to take on Aiken. That’s going to be an absorbing little coda in this contest. An untimely turnover by the Jamaicans now opens up the opportunity for Bassett to stretch the lead and that she does.
Three-quarter time - Australia leads by 7 goals at the final break
Australia 49-42 Jamaica
The pressure continues to come from the Jamaicans, who just refuse to throw in the towel and still only trail by 7. Is it time to bring Caitlin Thwaites into the game for the Aussies? Caitlin Bassett has been worked over in the last ten minutes and looks in need of a rest, to be honest. Plenty of food for thought as the teams enter their huddles for the final break.
Bassett has 36/38 for Australia and Medhurst 13/14 in a brilliant support performance. Similarly impressive is Shanice Beckford, who has 13/15 and continues to give Aiken (29/31) valuable assistance. All that stands between the Aussies and the gold medal game now is a single quarter of sustained pressure.
Australia 45-39 Jamaica (3rd quarter - 3:48)
The way Dehaney is blanketing Bassett at the moment you have to wonder why she didn’t start, regardless of her inexperience. Back-to-back goals to Aiken silence the crowd and the Jamaicans continue to press. This is a super effort. Can they pull off a miracle?
Australia 42-34 Jamaica (3rd quarter - 7:05)
This is stirling work by the underdogs in this quarter. They’re playing with belief and intent and both shooters are now providing a potent scoring threat.
INTERCEPT! Woah, Laura Geitz has given her side a huge lift by sneaking around Beckford and swooping to force a 2-goal turnaround. What a play! Moments later there’s an awkward moment for Kim Green, who lands awkwardly on her ankle and that forces an injury break. She’s staying on though and battling through the pain. “She’d stay on if her leg fell off” says Liz Ellis.
Australia 38-32 Jamaica (3rd quarter - 9:31)
The Jamaicans trim the lead back even further, to six, giving Bassett a torid time in the shooting circle until she scores a settler. Medhurst has a nice one-two with Kim Green to set up an easy attempt on goal but the Jamaican frontline is working very nicely here. The Aussies still have a real fight on their hands. Bassett proves she’s human after all by missing her first today, but makes no mistake when she rebounds that effort.
Australia 35-28 Jamaica (3rd quarter - 13:22)
There was an interesting moment a few minutes before this second half got under way with Aussie skipper Laura Geitz approaching the umpires and seeking clarification on something, perhaps the treatment of Natalie Medhurst.
Beckford somehow throws off Geitz to win possession and open the scoring and that’s followed by some solid defensive work from young Dehaney on Bassett. Perhaps there’s life in this contest yet. They peg the lead back by 2.
A slightly unorthodox move from @NetballJamaica's Nicole Dixon here! #AUSvJAM #SemiFinal #NWC2015 http://t.co/OBf1tn1Mch
— Netball World Cup (@netballworldcup) August 15, 2015
Half-time - Diamonds lead by 9 goals
Australia 35-26 Jamaica
Well, Caitlin Bassett started it and now she’s finished it, draining her 26th goal from as many attempts right on the whistle to send the Aussies into the main break with a 9-goal buffer. Have Jamaica got another big run in them? They’re looking a little tired now and the Aussies sit in the box seat for that gold medal game.
Other stats? Aiken has 18/20 and Beckford 8/10 for Jamaica, while the battered but unbeaten Medhurst has 9/10 in a super performance thusfar.
Australia 34-25 Jamaica (2nd quarter - 0:32 remaining)
The crowd is really getting involved in the Medhurst-Williams clash, which continues along the confrontational lines we’ve seen all game. The Aussie will probably glance over her shoulder as she gets on the team bus later; she’s being worn like a glove. Medhurst extends the lead to nine with half a minute remaining in this half.
Australia 31-22 Jamaica (2nd quarter - 2:46 remaining)
Erin Delahunty has some news that comes as a huge tick of approval for netball fans; they’re refusing to join in an ‘Aussie Oi’ chant. “I say netball fans are better than those bogan-ims!” says Erin.
The Jamaicas have a decent couple of minutes, clawing back that lead a little as Aiken and Geitz continue to go toe-to-toe. What a duel that is.
Australia 28-19 Jamaica (2nd quarter - 5:32 remaining)
Right on cue, Medhurst springs into action with a team-lifting intercept and within seconds Bassett is draining her 19th goal from as many attempts. As Australia’s lead reaches 9, the Jamaicans have made a major change to their line-up, bringing in Kadie-Ann Dehaney to counter Bassett. The Aussie celebrates that by sending one straight over her head to take her tally to 21.
Australia 22-17 Jamaica (2nd quarter - 9:58 remaining)
There’s something captivating about Shanice Beckford’s graceful play - she looks like she’s moving in slow motion at times but it just works. It’s also in stark contrast to an ugly passage of play in the last few minutes, one in which stray passes and fumbling are a feature for both sides.
We’ll have a short break now while Paula Thompson has some medical attention on her knee. Medhurst is still being hammered, by the way, but taking it all in her stride in the knowledge that such attention is a sign of respect for how well she’s playing.
Australia 20-15 Jamaica (2nd quarter - 12:04 remaining)
We’re off again with an Australian centre pass and some staunch defending to the Jamaicans to make life difficult for Bassett, but she gets the scoring started again and maintains her 100% accuracy. Thanks to a defensive blanket job and some tenacious work by Medhurst the green and gold are soon back to a 5-goal lead.
Quarter time - Australia lead by 2 goals
Australia 17-15 Jamaica at quarter time
The Aussies led by 5 at a couple of points in this quarter but the Jamaicans have really fought back now, drawing within 2 at the first break on account of Aiken and Beckford’s neat work.
The Diamonds shot perfectly in that quarter, Bassett with 13/13 and Medhurst with 4/4. Aiken is 10/11 and Beckford 5/6, which is not too shabby either.
Australia 16-13 Jamaica (1st quarter - 1:01 remaining)
Medhurst has been a physical target here and throws a cheeky elbow into Vangalee Williams when the Jamaican oversteps the mark. Aiken remains a towering presence under the post and the Diamonds know that a certain amount of the damage she causes is unavoidable.
Australia 14-10 Jamaica (1st quarter - 4:02 remaining)
Caitlin Bassett is 12 from 12 now, a dead-eyed an imposing performance with so long left in this quarter and the catalyst for a 3-goal unanswered run for Australia. Beckford brings that to a halt with two in a row of her own and has begun to work her way into the game nicely now.
Australia 10-8 Jamaica (1st quarter - 6:32 remaining)
Aiken’s having to will her teammates into this, wildly celebrating an early goal here where she’d normally be nonchalant. Shanice Beckford is a bystander for now, helping out when she can but only ever a last resort for the final pass. Once she does get an attempt at goal she nails it and the Jamaicans have rallied well.
Australia 7-3 Jamaica (1st quarter - 9:24 remaining)
The Aussies have settled beatifully here but not even Bassett can reel in a wild pass from Ravaillion that files metres above the goal shooters’ outstretched arms. Geitz is playing in front of Aiken and for now it’s paying dividends. The second phase play is where it’s breaking down for Jamaica and the Aussies go four up again through Bassett, who is shooting the lights out with 6 from 6.
Australia 4-1 Jamaica (1st quarter - 11:48 remaining)
And we’re away with a flick shot from Bassett, who shakes her head ruefully as she get Australia’s account opened. She’s a tough judge. The Sunshine Girls get off the mark as well through Aiken, surprise surprise, but she follows it with a bad miss from which Geitz reels in the rebound. Medhurst gets going with a cracking long-range attempt to put the Aussies three up and they’ve got the Jamaicans on the back foot early, harrying them out of the ball and showing their big-game experience.
We’re a couple of minutes away now
...and our roving reporter Erin Delahunty wonders aloud, “What does Caitlin Thwaites have to do to get a start in a big game?” She’s certainly nailed the opportunities she’s been given off the bench and provides the kind of physical presence that could rattle the young Jamaicans. Time will tell what sort of role she plays today.
Right as I ponder that there’s a nice moment when clubmates Geitz and Aiken share a high five and a warm smile. They’ll be a lot less festive in a few minutes.
Julie Corletto time
She was hobbling around in a moon boot before the tournament but the tenacious defender has been nursed through this tournament beautifully and probably needed to be held back the way she throws herself around.
“They’re certainly in fine form and have some fine shooters,” she says of the Jamaicans. “The excitement of the finals... you have that extra motivation.” Aiken and co will do well to outwit Corletto.
The Diamonds are now on court and warming up
...and will also take the first centre pass. “Laura Geitz has been in super form in this tournament,” says former Aussie skipper Sharelle McMahon, then rather unsurprisingly adds that her match-up Romelda Aiken will be a key factor in the result today.
“She’s the toughest goal shooter in the world,” Geitz said of her club teammate. “That challenge is something I look forward to.” Geitz says that the pressure applied ahead of her will be the key to restricting the potent goal shooter.
And what does Aiken make of the encounter? “When we get on court the friendship leaves,” she said with a grin yesterday.
We will take the first centre pass in our @netballworldcup Semi Final #AUSvJAM
— Australian Diamonds (@AussieDiamonds) August 15, 2015
The starting sevens
Australia: GS:Caitlin Bassett, GA: Natalia Medhurst, WA: Kim Green, C: Kimberley Ravaillion, WD: Renae Hallinan, GD: Julie Corletto, GK: Laura Geitz
Reserves: Erin Bell, Rebecca Bulley, Paige Hadley, Sharni Layton, Caitlin Thwaites
Jamaica: GS: Romelda Aiken, GA: Shanice Beckford, WA: Khadijah Williams, C: Paula Thompson, WD: Sasher-Gaye Henry, GD: Vangelee Williams, GK: Stacian Facey
Reserves: Nicole Aiken-Pinnock, Kadie-Ann Dehaney, Nicole Dixon, Jhaniele Fowler-Reid, Anna Kay Griffiths
On eleven occasions the final margin between us and @NetballJamaica has been between one and five goals. #AUSvJAM
— Australian Diamonds (@AussieDiamonds) August 15, 2015
Updated
Preamble
Hello netball fans and welcome to today’s second World Cup semi final between the Aussie Diamonds and Jamaica. We’ve just seen the Kiwis dispatch England 50-39 to progress to the final and the way that Maria Tutaia is shooting right now they’re going to provide a real test for whoever goes through here.
The Diamonds progressed to this semi by walloping the Welsh 89-24 in a clinical performance, one achieved with an experimental line-up that keeps coach Lisa Alexander’s stars fresh and her options open here and beyond, should the Aussies progress to the final,
The Jamaicans didn’t have it so easy, scraping over the line 63-62 against a gallant Malawi. Towering Romelda Aiken shot 44 from 48 in that match and will be the main obstacle for the Aussies today.
I’ll be back soon with team line-ups and more and also feel free to email russell.jackson@theguardian.com with all your bouquets and brickbats throughout.
Fans are pouring in wearing green and gold #brilliance pic.twitter.com/F3qeVMRIsI
— Australian Diamonds (@AussieDiamonds) August 15, 2015
Russell will be here shortly to take you through this afternoon’s match. In the meantime, here’s how the Diamonds ended their qualification campaign on Friday night:
