Australia beat Jamaica 72-51 to set up New Zealand semi-final

AFTER two shock losses, New Zealand have narrowly avoided disaster and qualified for the netball semi-finals. Their reward: a clash with an irrepressible Australian team.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA — APRIL 11: Caitlin Bassett of Australia (L) scores a goal during the Netball Pool A match between Australia and Jamaica on day seven of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast Convention Centre on April 11, 2018 on the Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

THE stumbling and fumbling New Zealand have narrowly avoided disaster and qualified for the netball semi-finals by the skin of their teeth.

Their reward is a near mission-impossible showdown against Australia on Saturday after the Diamonds crushed Jamaica 72-51 last night.

After falling to Malawi on Sunday night, the Silver Ferns slid further into crisis yesterday when they suffered a 54-45 loss at the hands of England.

Silver Ferns captain Katrina Grant was reduced to tears when asked post-match if her team lacked pride.

“Of course we have pride in this black dress. It means a lot to every single one of us,” Grant said.

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New Zealand has suffered two shock losses during the preliminary rounds. Picture: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

“We were little kids, you know younger girls growing up playing netball, and this is all we wanted.

“There’s a lot of pride in this dress and it’s a lot to take.”

New Zealand coach Janine Southby said the Silver Ferns only had themselves to blame for the loss to England and their wider predicament.

“Too many mistakes on attack, not enough courage to let the ball go to each other. Just not good enough,” she said.

“We lacked movement in the second quarter ... a lot of pressure on Maria (Folau) to put those shots in and others have got to stand up.

“We play well in patches and don’t string it together enough. I totally believe we have the skills to do it. We are as frustrated as everyone else.”

Caitlin Bassett scores during the Diamonds’ 72-51 win over Jamaica. Picture: Dan Mullan/Getty Images

The Kiwis next hurdle will be the Diamonds who were irrepressible in their emphatic 72-51 victory over Jamaica.

With supersub Laura Geitz setting the tone in defence, the Diamonds outscored the Sunshine Girls 19-9 directly after the halftime break when the Gold Coast Convention Centre crowd was whipped into a frenzy with a mass sing-a-long to John Farnham’s “You’re the Voice’’.

The Diamonds will play New Zealand in one semi-final on Saturday while England will take on Jamaica in the other semi-final.

If Australia put the foot down on the weekend, everyone else is playing for silver.

This was always going to be Australia’s biggest test of the pool matches and they made a statement with their best performance of the tournament.

Originally published as Australia beat Jamaica 72-51 to set up New Zealand semi-final