Australia have suffered a historic three-goal loss to Jamaica at the Commonwealth Games, with their gold medal campaign in Birmingham.
The Diamonds were expected to go through their Group A matches and meet the second-placed team from Group B in the semi-finals.
But they blew a six-goal lead heading into the final season to suffer their first loss to the Sunshine Girls.
A scintillating 47 goals from international superstar Jhaniele Fowler and some remarkable defensive efforts from Shamera Sterling ensured Jamaica cruised to a 57-55 victory.
Fox Netball’s Catherine Cox said the Diamonds “just shut up” in the final quarter as Jamaica came home with the win.
“Australia couldn’t get the ball back, it was brilliant defensive work from Jamaica. They really just stepped it up another level in the fourth quarter,” he said.
Questions will be asked about coach Stacey Marinkovich’s choices, with only Sunday Aryang coming on for four minutes in the second term and Sarah Klau entering a revamped defensive line with four minutes left in the game.
Gretel Bueta finished the selection of the diamond attack, despite being silenced in the last quarter by Sterling, with 36 goals in 39 attempts.
Steph Wood’s night ended with 19 goals at 86%.
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Australia opted to start Gretel Bueta as a shooter, with Steph Wood and Liz Watson up front. Kate Moloney got the nod at center with Ash Brazill, Jo Weston and Courtney Bruce completing the defensive trio.
For Jamaica, Jhaniele Fowler started at GS, with Beckford and Williams at GA and WA respectively. Nicole Dixon-Rochester was central with Super Netball trio Jodi-Ann Ward, Latanya Wilson and Shamera Sterling the starting defenders.
The world’s best marksman started the match with a bang, scoring five quick goals to open the first break of the match for Jamaica.
Courtney Bruce kept West Coast Fever teammate Fowler as high as she could but Shanice Beckford was brilliant around the edges to keep feeding in from close range.
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Bruce and Jo Weston got early tips but it was Jamaica who were able to convert as at the other end Gretel Bueta’s connection just fell.
“Diamonds are in shock here,” said commentator Sue Gaudion.
Australia kicked just three goals in the first seven minutes, before Steph Wood headed home from distance to level the scores.
An interception by Jodi-Ann Ward gave Jamaica the lead once again when the long ball caught Weston’s eye.
“They exposed the diamond defense again,” Gaudion said.
A quick double play by Bueta ensured the Aussies took the lead with less than two minutes left in the first period.
Coach Connie Francis was less than impressed when the Sunshine Girls threw a brilliant interception by Sterling.
“But that’s the problem – the conversion of those brilliant moments,” said commentator Cath Cox.
At the first break, Australia led by one goal.
The Aussies were unchanged for the second term – the first time tournament coach Stacey Marinkovich has opted not to change after a break.
A great rebound from Sterling gave Jamaica the first chance, but they couldn’t convert as the brilliant hands of Courtney Bruce broke the game up.
“There’s a lot of feelings out there,” Cox said.
“Courtney Bruce Watching Death in Beckford”.
The Aussies were lucky to feed Bueta with Sterling in pursuit, but the move continued to pay off.
When Shanice Beckford found the top of the circle, the Sunshine Girls opted for a rare direct ball feed to Fowler.
“On the edge of the circle, feeding Fowler, unbeatable,” praised Cox.
A rare mistake by Bueta saw replay called, but once again Jamaica could not convert as Khadijah Williams was booked for footwork.
“It’s the simple things that bring Jamaica down, isn’t it,” Cox said.
Sunday Aryang lined up in goal defense, joining Fever teammates Bruce and Fowler in the goal circle.
And he almost had an immediate impact, getting a nod onto a high ball to Fowler, but ultimately couldn’t stop the conversion.
Beckford had a brilliant interception on Ash Brazill and suddenly the margin was back to one.
“Connie Francis wants them,” praised Gaudion.
Wood backed up teammate Bueta when she went with the crossbar feed, and the firebird didn’t let her down with some pretty hands.
“The guts to let it go over the best keeper in the game … look at that take,” praised Cox.
At the half, Australia led 30-29.
Weston got back on track as some bad hands from Wood allowed the Sunshine Girls to tie it early in the third.
Jamaica managed to pull down another deflection but threw it back at half court.
“That long fly ball, if I just shortened it and made a safety ball, I think they would get on offense,” Cox said.
A rare shooter’s contact call on Fowler gave Australia a chance to pull away. Sterling’s cheeky tackle as Bueta put the ball in for the penalty did not go unnoticed by the referee as the lead was suddenly back to four.
The physicality increased in the third, with Brazill getting under the skin of Adean Thomas and sending the ball home.
Once again, a Ward pickup at the edge of the circle ended up sailing over Fowler’s head as another turnover was missed.
A second straight disqualification was called for Sterling for obstruction as the crowd began to find its voice.
A misdirected ball in the middle of the court ensured another change of balance as the Diamonds extended the score to six, the biggest of the game.
Bueta’s strong hold on Sterling in the dying seconds pushed Australia to a 46-40 lead at the final change.
Marinkovich was unchanged once again for the final term as Jamaican full-back Jodi-Ann Ward came through with the deflection to help her side close to three.
Williams’ return to WA lifted the Sunshine Girls’ attack in the final term as they looked to find their rhythm with Fowler once again.
And when Wood failed to recover the short ball and was bowled out, Jhaniele Fowler made the Aussies pay seconds later to close within a goal.
Liz Watson lobbed past Bueta, and remarkably the Sunshine Girls took the lead with eight minutes to play.
“We haven’t seen the pressure this game. Mistakes like that have been few and far between for the Diamonds,” Cox said.
Although Jamaica assistant coach Rob Wright pleaded with his defenders to shut down Wood’s influence, it was Bueta who they silenced as Wood had to step up.
And the Lightning star was up to the challenge with three consecutive mid-range shots.
Another Diamonds turnover, this time from Weston to Vixens teammate Watson, gave Jamaica a two-goal cushion when stoppage time was called.
Weston headed to the bench, Bruce went out to GD and Sarah Klau was introduced for her first few minutes of the night.
When Shamera Sterling came up with the big kick and recovered, Jamaica took the lead with just over a minute to play.
And in remarkable scenes, the Sunshine Girls held on in the thrilling final seconds with Shanice Beckford netting the final goal of the game.
In the end, it was Jamaica who took the win 57-55.