Australia vs Jamaica netball: Diamonds stunned by Sunshine Girls in historic Commonwealth Games semi-final defeat
Glasgow: The Diamonds will miss the gold medal match at the Commonwealth Games for the first time after being upset by Jamaica in a thrilling semi-final, 45-46.
Australia had the chance to tie the game after full-time and force extra time, but Sophie Dwyer, who was shooting from long range, watched her shot bounce off the rim.
Cue pandemonium for Jamaica as the celebrations began.
Australia have not lost a Commonwealth Games semi-final since netball made its full program debut in 1998, but they will have to settle for a chance at bronze against England on Sunday instead of trying for back-to-back gold medals. Instead it will be the Jamaicans taking on New Zealand in the decider.
The Diamonds had no answer for Jamaica’s aerial superiority in the first half, as the Sunshine girls overpowered them by sheer force and speed – aided by a truly stupendous performance from Shamera Sterling Humphrey, who used all 190cm of her height to intercept and create crucial turnovers.
Sterling-Humphrey recently won the 2026 Super Netball grand final with the Adelaide Thunderbirds back in Australia. Her presence in the Jamaican squad was deadly for the Australians, who struggled to stop her.
In the final five minutes of the last quarter, the umpire’s whistle could barely be heard as the crowd turned up the volume in favour of the Jamaican side – and they hadn’t been quiet to begin with.
Jamaica’s bench was no less involved, cheering, encouraging, advising and waving the flag throughout the entire match. It reached fever pitch as Dwyer’s shot missed and they stormed the court.
Australia’s bench looked stunned, with coach Stacey Marinkovich staring stony-faced while other players leaned forward with their hands covering their mouths.
More to come.
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Hannah Kennelly is an award-winning sports reporter and Formula 1 writer at The Age.Connect via email.