The Origin Australian Diamonds have overcome a strong England Roses side with a 58-46 win to retain the Netball Quad Series trophy in London this morning.
The match was tight and thrilling throughout, with the Diamonds trailing at every break and the Roses looking like they had the Australian's number. But several key gains late, a cutdown on turnovers after the halftime break and an incredible 97% shooting accuracy turned the tides and won the game.
The win was capped off by a breathtaking 18-5 final quarter, securing the Netball Quad Series trophy and making a statement in the last Test before July's Commonwealth Games.
Australia led 4-1 early, but England controlled the contest from there, establishing a 14-12 quarter-time lead and maintaining that buffer into the main break.
With England untroubled entering their attacking circle, it was hard to see how the Diamonds could make up ground.
But the injection of Sarah Klau in defence worked wonders, two early intercepts ruffling feathers and player of the match and the tournament Gretel Bueta making no mistake at the other end.
Bueta missed just one goal in the final and shot at 96 per cent for the series as Australia won their sixth Quad Series title out of a possible seven.
"It was so tight throughout the whole game, we had to be really comfortable in those goal-for-goal moments until you find your opportunity," Stacey Marinkovich said.
"It's been a tremendous opportunity to play against all the nations here .. our focus was to improve and I think we really did that."
England coach Jess Thirlby lamented her side's inability to match Australia's final-quarter pressure.
"They went up a gear and we just fell apart a little bit," she said.
