Maria Folau misses shot on buzzer as Diamonds beat Ferns by one

Australia’s Netball World Cup defence survived its first proper test with a breathtaking last-gasp one-goal win over New Zealand.

Australia's Caitlin Bassett, left, at full stretch against New Zealand’s Jane Watson in their World Cup match in Liverpool. Picture: PA

It’s finally confirmed: the Diamonds mean business — but only just.

After five preliminary-stage strolls, Australia’s Netball World Cup defence survived its first proper test with a breathtaking last-gasp one-goal win over New Zealand to top their group and set up a semi-final date with either Commonwealth Games nemesis England or rising power South Africa.

Which it will be was a mystery for another 12 hours, with the pair due to play each other in Liverpool overnight (AEDT).

But the green and gold will be bristling with confidence for the final-four tie after New Zealand’s Maria Folau uncharacteristically missed a shot on the buzzer that would have given her side a draw, consigning the Silver Ferns to a gut-wrenching 50-49 defeat.

“You just know they’re going to do it,” Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander said.

“I’ve experienced it I don’t know how many times. Credit to New Zealand, they threw everything at us, lots of different combinations. I was pleased we held on in the end.”

It meant a 12th win from the last 13 for Australia against the old enemy across the ditch, in a tie that swung savagely this way and that and featured a third-quarter comeback but ultimately ended in favour of the world’s top-ranked nation.

Even the courtside support of sacked rugby star Israel Folau in the stands wasn’t enough for wife Maria and her Silver Ferns, revitalised under new coach Noeline Taurua and yet unable to provide answers to Australia’s merciless attack and determined defence.

For all the eyes on the sacked rugby star, there were just as many on Lisa Alexander’s line-up.

For five matches in a row she had tinkered with her team and tested vastly differing starting sevens against lesser-ranked adversaries, and only now revealed what she considers her strongest — or, at least, the most likely to rattle the rhythm of the Silver Ferns.

Captain and goalshooter Caitlin Bassett (37/41) was in fine fettle in partnership with goal attack Steph Wood, more settled than her previous outings and enjoying the service from wing attack Kelsey Brown and centre Liz Watson.

Folau, perhaps Australian sport’s most polarising figure, cut a low-profile presence, politely declining a request to speak to the media.

The Folau on the court has been silent too in the wake of criticism for endorsing her husband’s crowd-funding efforts to help pay his legal fees against Rugby Australia after his contract was terminated.

And yet she was the Silver Fern to elicit the biggest cheer from the Australia-heavy crowd.

Folau was, as usual, a dead-eye from distance bar that final missed shot, converting 21 from 24 attempts.

But the 32-year-old was put off more than once by dogged Diamonds goalkeeper Courtney Bruce, who helped turn the match by tiny moments.

Like when the West Coast Fever captain tipped the ball to Jo Weston and they pulled ahead 11-9, eventually finishing the opening term 13-10.

Or in the second term, when she again intervened to spark a transition that put Australia up 19-14 to help finish the first half ahead 28-22.

But New Zealand, flustered though they appeared, rallied to win the third 14-12 and pushed the Diamonds all the way as tight one-on-one defence broke down passages of play and the umpire had a field day with the whistle for obstruction.

Australia played the ball around to eat up time and it was just as well after Ekenasio drew New Zealand level with a minute and 20 seconds on the clock.

Up stepped Bassett, under pressure, to sink the eventual winner before Folau’s late, late miss.

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH